FORT BRAGG, Calif. — A healthy sea lion pup that was returned to the sea by deputies after waddling a quarter-mile onshore seemed to be staying in the waves on Wednesday — at least for now, officers said.
Deputies patrolling Highway 1, just south of Fort Bragg, spotted an animal moving slowly in dark, dense fog on Sunday. They discovered it was a sea lion pup, measuring 2½ feet long and weighing about 20 pounds, with a tag attached to its front flipper.
The animal — believed to have met humans previously through a stay in a marine animal rehabilitation project — seemed happy to have come across the deputies.
On Sunday, it climbed into the back of the patrol car, and deputies took some pictures with their new friend, including one of the sea lion wearing a seat belt, before driving it back to the ocean.
