Lords-A-Leaping! Sea Lion Pup Recovers After Bridge Fall In Aliso

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A 33-pound sea lion pup remained in critical care Thursday after falling from a footbridge onto the northbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach.

The male sea lion, now named "Lords-a-Leaping," climbed Monday night up the Aliso Beach pedestrian bridge at Aliso Circle that crosses Pacific Coast Highway, according to Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jim Cota. The sea lion got to the south wall of the inland side of the bridge, then fell off after about 40 minutes of sitting on the bridge, Cota tweeted. Brush and vines slowed its fall, possibly reducing injury, and it landed on the shoulder of the northbound Pacific Coast Highway.

Staff from the Pacific Marine Mammal Center and Laguna Beach Animal Services were able to rescue the wayward sea lion and take it to the marine mammal facility in Laguna Canyon, Pacific Marine Mammal Center CEO Peter Chang told Patch.

The sea lion was extremely dehydrated and emaciated upon rescue, according to the center's veterinarian, but was otherwise unhurt. As to why the pup sought shelter there is impossible to say, according to Chang, although finding sea lions onshore is the new normal.

Overnight, the rescue center took in another sea lion and is watching a third that self-rescued off the shore of Dana Point.

Meanwhile, Lords-a-Leaping has shown mammal center workers his feisty side, Chang said. He is eating; and although he remains under watch, the fact that he has a healthy diet couldn't be better, according to Chang.

"The more feisty they are, the better," Chang told Patch.

The pup is dining on solid food — chopped up-herring, which is kind of early for a newly rescued pup, according to Chang.

"When we see the animal eating, that's a really good sign," Chang said. "He is in critical care so that we can monitor his progress. So far, so good."

"Usually, we would never allow our team to go on a rescue in those situations, as these are wild animals, and everyone was concerned that the animal might leap onto PCH," Chang said.

"Without the help of Laguna Beach Animal Services and the Laguna Beach police, it would not have been possible."

Lords-a-Leaping is the eighth pup from the Channel Islands rookeries that the mammal center has taken in this season.