Experts from Marine Mammal Center say the unexpected visitor appears healthy enough to be left alone.
A young sea lion that recently took up residence in Petaluma’s Turning Basin has been variously described as glorious, adorable, lost and sick. But after plenty of observation, and at least one attempt at capturing the animal, experts have decided that it’s best to leave it be, for now.
That means it’s OK to enjoy the sleek creature sunbathing steps from Petaluma’s downtown – as long as you don’t get too close.
“Please stay 30 feet away,” wrote employees of Floathouse Petaluma in a Sunday Facebook post, along with cell phone shots of the sea lion parked on the docks nearby. They ask that people trying to reach the Floathouse use the gate by the Yacht Club so as not to disturb it.
Floathouse employees have been among the main chroniclers of the unexpected visitor – who they’ve named “Stevie” – and on Saturday they gave an update “on our friend the sea lion who had spent about a week with us in the Petaluma Turning Basin as well as upstream, and downriver near the Sheraton and the Petaluma Marina.”
According to the Floathouse, “We spoke with the Marine Mammal Center on Friday, June 27, and they said that their attempt to rescue the sea lion indicated to them that it is in good enough shape to swim, and seemed healthy, so rather than subjecting the animal to the trauma of rescue, which is only done in extreme cases, they determined that it should be left alone and expect that it will probably find its way back to the Bay.”
They added that there is no further need for locals to call the Marine Mammal Center – the Sausalito-based nonprofit staffed by marine biologists ready to help local sea life in need – since “they’ve been informed.”
Another chronicler of Stevie the sea lion is local photographer Frank Blue, who has been watching and photographing it since its arrival in mid-June.
Regarding the animal’s health, “There’s been mixed talk,” Blue told the Argus-Courier on Monday. “I spoke with another tech yesterday that witnessed him coughing. There’s also noticeable new white crust around his eyes. It’s a waiting game. He’s healthy enough to swim is what I got from it.”
However long the animal decides to stay in Petaluma, he said, “They’ll be monitoring it, as will I since I live nearby.”
Sick or not, locals have been charmed by the creature since its arrival in mid-June, prompting clusters of onlookers and plenty of online postings.
Debra Amador DeLaRosa said she and her husband were practicing yoga on the evening of Sunday, June 22 in the Yoga Post studio, which overlooks the river, when they saw the sea lion swimming by.
“We shared a collective moment of awe,” she said in a note to the Argus-Courier describing the cohort of yoga practitioners admiring the animal. “It made me think of what connects us all — a love and appreciation for nature and her glorious creatures.”
Three days later, volunteers from the Marine Mammal Center came to Petaluma to capture the animal – but finding that it was strong and swift enough to evade them, they called off the effort.
Though they didn’t capture Stevie, their trip wasn’t wasted, as Floathouse staff got them to talk about it to a group of fascinated youngsters.
“A volunteer from The Marine Mammal Center who had been called in by us and others who have been keeping tabs on our visitor took time to speak with our Small Boat Summer Campers, who got a meaningful lesson in marine wildlife care,” the group reported.
Argus-Courier Staff Writer David Templeton contributed to this report.