A sea lion was spotted on a deck at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco this morning, but it eluded capture by diving on to the rocks below, officials said.
The sea lion was spotted on a first-level deck at the yacht club, said Jim Oswald, communications director for the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. The center was contacted around 8:30 a.m., but San Francisco police and fire units were already on scene.
Before the center’s stranding unit could arrive, however, the sea lion, thought to have been a young adult, became spooked by the people on scene and jumped off the deck, Oswald said.
Police at the scene reported that the sea lion hit the rocks below and appeared to have a cut on its back, but it disappeared before the extent of its injuries could be assessed, Oswald said. So far, no reports have come in of an injured animal in the area.
“Obviously, if folks do see this animal and it looks injured, do give us a call,” Oswald said.
The Marine Mammal Center operates a 24-hour hotline for stranded and injured sea mammals at (415) 289-7325 (SEAL). Press “Option 1” for rescue.
A person answering the phone at the St. Francis Yacht Club said the club had no comment on the incident.
Sara Gaiser, Bay City News
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