Sea Lion Pup Wanders Up Hilly Walk Street In Manhattan Beach

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — He left the ocean, left the shoreline, ventured across the bike path, up a set of stairs, across The Strand up a hill a block, across Ocean Avenue, then up almost another block and finally climbs more stairs that lead to the front door of a house in Manhattan Beach.

Nope, the little guy was not a human, but a sea lion pup, and the second one in the last two weeks to venture close to homes in Manhattan Beach. The first sea lion pup made it to the steps of a home in the 2800 block of The Strand on Monday, Dec. 7. Manhattan Beach Parking and Animal Control was called and the pup, thought to be malnourished, was transported to the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro for attention.

This week's seal lion pup wandered quite a distance away from the ocean and wound up on the stairs to Michael Daniels' home. Daniels got in touch with the city's parking and animal control division in the Manhattan Beach Police Department and the sea lion pup was delicately captured and taken to the MMCC.

Daniels received the following update on his condition in an email from MMCC:

The pup is doing well and has already started eating fish! He had a stingray barb in his nose, and I am sure he felt better once we were able to remove it. His chart number is 20-192 for future reference, if you want to follow-up on him again.

Assuming there are no complications during rehabilitation, he will be here for several weeks, putting on some weight, becoming a little stronger, and learning to eat faster.

Thanks for your interest in this little guy. Let me know if you have additional questions about him

Regards,
Dr. Palmer
Lauren Palmer DVM, MPH
Hospital Director, Veterinarian
Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles