In the small , sleepy-eyed island town of Sitka , Alaska , not much happens in the way of newspaper headline - grabbing news program . ( I ’m allowed to say that because I ’m from there ) . That is until one local happened to stumble across a familiar case in a very unfamiliar fix .
Local hospital employee , Eric Radzuikinas , was make his nightshift rounds around 2.30am on August 31 when he came across a 450 - kg ( 1,000 - pound ) Steller ’s ocean Leo the Lion awkwardly bobble its way down the street in town . As the local radio stationput it , “ How often do you see a sea lion lumbering down the route ? ”
Multiple office , include theSitka Volunteer Fire Departmentand the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) , tried to move the mammal back to the water , even using fire hoses to corral it back to its normal habitat – all to no avail . A spokesperson with the National Marine Fisheries Service said the authority and biologists were monitor the motorcar - sized animal , which they conceive is frightened and confused .
“ He is a sub - adult male sea lion , ” Julie Speegle with NOAA toldKCAW . “ He seem to be panicked and confused , and he ’s been sort of hiding out in the bushes a little turn . Our law of nature enforcement officers have cordoned off the area with ribbon , and we ’re involve members of the public to please avoid the area , so we can allow the animal some space and quiet to calm down . ”
“ [ We ’re ] hoping that he line up his way back to the water by himself once things calm down a little turn . There is still the possibleness of using some approved hazing practice to encourage him in the right direction if the need uprise , ” she add .
Steller ’s sea lionsare the bombastic of the eared seal mob , which include all sea Panthera leo and fur seals . male person can make length of over 3 meters ( 11 foot ) and a weight of up to 1,100 kilograms ( 2,500 British pound ) . Historically , these blubbery colossus were hunt for their meat , fur , and oil . Today they are protect under the Marine Mammal Protection Act ( MMPA ) and are federally designated asendangeredunder the Endangered Species Act ( ESA ) along the western US .
Sea lions can become strand for anumber of reason , such as after hurt traumatic injury and bacterial infection likeleptospirosis , undernourishment , parasites , or harmful algal blooms that can causedomoic acid poisoning .
If you see a stranded marine mammalian , theMarine Mammal Center , who is not involved in the Sitka sea lion ’s vitrine , say do not touch it . Stay at least 50 foot away , note its physical characteristics , such as sizing and stipulation , determine its precise location , and cover it powerful away to the Marine Mammal Stranding web toll - free at 877 - 925 - 7773 ( in the US ) .
Back in Sitka , the narration has a glad ending . recoverer were capable to calm the heavyweight and move him back to the water using a front - end loader , report theAnchorage Daily News .
" It ’s a good event , " Speegle secernate the publication . " He was last seen catching a fish . "
[ H / T : KCAWandSitka Volunteer Fire Department ]
