San Francisco park rangers were met with an unexpected sight during their predawn patrol Thursday: a small sea lion, lounging on the sidewalk near homes in the Outer Sunset.
The sea lion appeared to have “wandered out of the ocean and onto the street,” pausing to rest against a utility pole at the corner of 48th Avenue and Irving Street, the San Francisco Park and Recreation Department said on social media.
The pole is near residential homes about a block from Ocean Beach. Authorities said it was a California sea lion, the same breed that frequents Pier 39.
With help from San Francisco Police Department officers and a volunteer from the Marine Mammal Center, the pup — now named Irving, for the location where it was found — was corralled into a crate borrowed from the nearby Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital. After a stop at the ranger station, Irving was chauffeured to the Marine Mammal Center’s hospital in Sausalito by midmorning Thursday.
“While it’s as of yet unknown why Irving was away from their usual habitat, the California sea lion pup will receive an admission exam from our veterinary experts this week to evaluate their condition and any underlying ailments,” Marine Mammal Center spokesperson Giancarlo Rulli said.
That exam will help determine Irving’s sex and age. Rulli estimated that Irving was about 10 months old, since the peak season for sea lions to be born is around June. Baby sea lions typically stay with their mothers for about a year as they nurse and learn survival skills, like how to swim and hunt.
Sea lions that are out on their own before then can struggle to find food due to their underdeveloped foraging skills, Rulli said, sometimes making them vulnerable to health issues. The Marine Mammal Center had no further information on Irving’s health Thursday evening.
“We are grateful for the quick action, dedication and support from our partners that allowed this young animal to be rescued in the wee hours of the morning, giving Irving a second chance,” Rulli said.