For the last three days, the township of Sitka, Alaska has been graciously playing host to a very lost, very large, Steller sea lion who managed to wander on in from the ocean and then somehow get inexplicably lost.
[jwplayer 808rOqyx]
Authorities reported that the big boy was spotted by locals at about 2am on Friday, hurtling down the street before taking shelter at an abandoned dormitory near the town’s hospital. When police, firefighters, and local marine experts showed up on Saturday to try and get the stranded animal back into the water, they were impressed by just how big the creature was. Absolute unit. In awe at the size of the lad.
I cannot prepare you for how criminally large this sea lion is. He is a seriously Huge Fella.
An adult male sea lion came ashore in Sitka and has been wandering around town. They’re trying to uh encourage it to go back in the water https://t.co/P9DwZm8gAE pic.twitter.com/wYq07jNrGc
— David Hulen (@davidhulen) September 2, 2018
LOOK AT THAT THING. He’s a monstrous thing. Imagine that cobber, freaked out of his poor mind, just careening at you at the top speed of a sea lion. Picture that.
Anyway, the team managed to steer the phenomenally big lad toward the water with the assistance of some hoses, but that was not the end of his adventure.
Update: Sea lion still ashore in Sitka, it’s hiding in the woods, they’re still trying to get the big guy back in the water https://t.co/pHehs1TzDe pic.twitter.com/WWjpRNosUx
— David Hulen (@davidhulen) September 2, 2018
The poor thing freaked out again and bolted into the forest, where he kind of tried to hide.
NOAA is asking the public to clear the area in Sitka where a male Steller sea lion is in distress, and is hiding in the woods; the incident is drawing onlookers. Please, for your own safety and the well-being of the animal, if you are in the area, leave. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/UosBejhlGm
— NOAA Fisheries AK (@NOAAFisheriesAK) September 2, 2018
This man’s hiding attempt is as good as what my cat (who was strictly an outside cat) used to do whenever he snuck inside – hide under a table that only covered his head and believe the very silly theory of “well if I can’t see you, then you can’t see me.”
Thankfully, after three long days of being very bewildered almost a kilometre inland, the rotund ocean puppy was humanely sedated and relocated closer to the water, where he managed to flop himself in and swim back to his home.
The “Tree Lion” has returned to the sea! He swam away abily after being sedated and relocated closer to the water’s edge by NOAA. Thanks to Sitka fire, PD, Tribe and @UAFGRAD Stranding Network volunteers. I got to pull a whisker for analysis. Yes, it was scary. https://t.co/EU7O9DRJvO
— Ellen Chenoweth (@HungryHumpbacks) September 4, 2018
