Pregnant 600-Pound Sea Lion Gets Lost, Ends Up In Middle Of The Woods

Mar 16, 2020 by apost team

Washington State animal service officers captured a 600-pound sea lion that had wandered to the middle of a road in the woods. Once rescued, the hefty marine animal was transported back to and released into the Cowlitz River.

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife staff members have relocated many wild animals over the years. When they arrived at this scene, however, they encountered a most unusual sight. A pregnant, 600-pound sea lion had wandered two miles inland and was sitting in the middle of a road.

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After failing to coerce the animal to move back toward the Cowlitz River, the pair of on-duty animal service officers enlisted the help of several other staff members. Together, they held several feet of plywood along each side of the road to prevent the angry mammal from leaving the road and moving further inland. As she moved toward the end of the barricade, people repositioned themselves to fill in the gaps.

After a few hours, this mom-to-be got tired of jumping up and down the length of this human chain. As a result, she became a bit calmer and much easier to corral. Eventually, the barricade team got her into a cage on top of a trailer.

After a two-mile drive back to the Cowlitz River, state officials moved her cage toward the shoreline. They cautiously opened the cage, and the sea lion eagerly moved back into the water. She was home, and the rescue was a success.

This account is an excellent example of how teamwork can save the day. What do you think of the heroic efforts of the Washington State employees? Perhaps you’ve participated in or witnessed the rescue of a wild animal. Tell your friends here or on other social media sites all about it and inspire others to keep the animals around us safe.