A sea lion in distress at the beach.
The other day, we were on our evening beach walk when we first saw the sea lion above. I noticed a woman standing near the sea lion. The sea lion would alternate sitting up and lying down. (I first wrote laying down — but I fixed it. Lie and lay have stumped me for years.)
We sat and watched the sea lion struggle to get back into the ocean. She would bob her head up and down while sitting up. Two summers ago, we saw a number of sea lions on the beach in distress. They did the same thing as this one. I called the hotline for marine animals and told them the location of the sea lion.
Then there were three women standing by the sea lion. I walked to the water’s edge to tell them to keep their distance and not to get any closer to the sea lion. I had learned that people and dogs can stress sick sea lions to death!
When I approached the women, I noticed one was wearing a uniform from the Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute. That’s who I had called. So, they were already aware. I asked the volunteer if the sea lion was suffering from the same issue that we saw a few years ago. She said yes, and that she was stationed to keep people and dogs away and to observe until sunset. She said they weren’t doing any rescues that night.
I wrote about sea lions HERE and HERE two summers ago. The second link has a video of a sea lion which shows you how they move when affected with Domoic Acid poisoning.
Here’s an excerpt:
The volunteer from the Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute explained that the sea lion was suffering from Domoic Acid poisoning, which is caused by algae bloom.
My husband said that algae bloom happens every year. Isn’t that a normal thing? Wouldn’t sea lions be used to it?
She said they were inundated with calls about sick sea lions along the coast and that the Domoic Acid poisoning could be fatal. The volunteers were out observing the sea lions from sunrise to sunset along the beaches. Apparently stress could make the illness worse. She was standing on the beach all day to keep people and dogs away from the sick sea lion.
The volunteer yesterday explained that Domoic Acid poisoning occurs when fish eat the plankton, which isn’t toxic to them. Then the sea lions eat the fish and they get sick.
It was sad to see the sea lion suffering. It was still on beach when we left with the volunteer standing near. On the bright side, she said they’ve had very few Domoic calls this year, unlike two years ago.
Do you confuse Lie and Lay? How about effect and affect? Any others?
What do you think about people approaching a sea lion on the beach? I watched it happen two summers ago, people ignoring the yellow crime tape and signs to stay away.
