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Sick sea lion chases people on Jacksons beach

Photos courtesy of Amy Traxler

posted 05/19/2008
A mother, her young child and their dog scrambled to safety away from a charging California sea lion at Jacksons Beach Friday afternoon. San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network Coordinator Amy Traxler said, "The female came after them with its mouth open. Then the mammal stopped, laid down and was very disoriented."

The female sea lion, weighing a couple of hundred pounds, may be suffering from domoic acid toxins, which affects the brain, according to marine veterinanian Dr. Joe Gaydos of the SeaDoc Society.

Traxler contacted the Port of Friday Harbor and the sheriff's office and the area was roped off. Stranding network volunteers stood by. After everything was set up, the sea lion promptly left the area which was near the gravel pit end of the beach. She swam farther down the shoreline and crawled up on the beach. She ended up by the driftwood 100 yards from the middle parking spots.

Traxler said the sea lion kept fidgeting as though she couldn't get comfortable. When the sun set the sea lion was still there, but she was gone before morning.

If anyone else has seen the sea lion, please call the Stranding and Sightings hotline at 1.800.562.8832. Also call anytime you see sea lions in the area, as it is not usual for female California Sea Lions to be in the San Juans.

Traxler also reminds people we are coming up on stranding season, the time of year where people are likely to see seal pups stranded on beaches. If you do see one, remember it is illegal to touch them. They are a federally protected species. Stay 100 yards away and call the Stranding hotline at 1.800.562.8832..

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