By Nora O91裸聊视频橫alley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter HA-SHILTH-SA
Vet staff from the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMRS) are on standby this week along Vancouver Island91裸聊视频檚 Pacific Rim Highway after a California sea lion was spotted over the holidays on several occasions by different drivers, stranded on the road.
Vet staff say the marine mammal likely followed fish up a river and into Kennedy Lake, near Ucluelet, then staggered up a path near Highway 4. Emergency crews are working alongside Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and aquarium personnel to capture the confused sea lion.
91裸聊视频淚deally, what I91裸聊视频檇 like to do is bring this animal back to the rescue facility and have a good look at him. I91裸聊视频檓 not convinced 100 per cent that he is perfectly normal,91裸聊视频� said Martin Haulena, the executive director and head vet at VAMMRS.
91裸聊视频淏ut if we can91裸聊视频檛 get him back safely here, relocation is still a possibility. I91裸聊视频檒l leave that up to DFO,91裸聊视频� he said.
Vancouver-based vet staff Sion Cahoon and Katie Dantoni have been surveying the highway and Kennedy Lake area where the sea lion was spotted by a driver on Dec. 29, 2024, but they said the marine mammal hasn91裸聊视频檛 been seen since they arrived on Jan. 5. They are prepared to use a sedative dart to capture the lost sea lion.
Haulena told the Ha-shilth-sa that the sea lion is 91裸聊视频渘ot acting quite right91裸聊视频�.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not super common, however we do have animals that find themselves in weird places. Unfortunately, a lot of the time there is something wrong with these animals, there is something wrong with the brain function,91裸聊视频� Haulena explained.
Things like cancers, biotoxins or gun shot wounds could all affect the brain and cause long-term effect, according to Haulena, as well as a whole host of bacteria, viruses and fungus that could cause neurological deficits and lead to the animal to acting abnormally.
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Lands and Natural Resources Manager Saya Masso agrees.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 odd that it would be on its lonesome. That might mean that it91裸聊视频檚 sick or hungry. It91裸聊视频檚 not favourable to anybody to see it suffering out there,91裸聊视频� said Masso.
He went on to say that sea lions get into the lake on occasion, but they don91裸聊视频檛 normally hang around all by themselves.
91裸聊视频淚n historic times, the sea lion would have likely been harvested and utilized to its full extent traditionally,91裸聊视频� said Masso. 91裸聊视频淚n a perfect world, it would just be sent back into the ocean to find its family.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 do worry about the animal91裸聊视频檚 safety and I do worry about people91裸聊视频檚 safety, of course,91裸聊视频� Haulena continued. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 a stretch of highway that has some blind corners. It91裸聊视频檚 a little bit worrisome.91裸聊视频�
Anyone that sees the sea lion is encouraged to contact VAMMRS at 604-258-SEAL (7325) or the BC Marine Mammal Response Network 1-800-465-4336, or by emailing DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO鈫昫fo-mpo.gc.ca or VHF Channel 16.
