Wayward sea lion leads police on a slow chase Wayward sea lion leads police on a slow chase (January 19, 2005)

By Jane Knoerle

Almanac Staff Writer

After closing down all lanes of the Bayfront Expressway and leading Menlo Park police on a midnight ramble on January 11, an adolescent female sea lion is resting up at the Marine Mammal Center in Marin.

"She has a clean bill of health and will probably be released early this week," says Jim Oswald, spokesman for the center. "She's even eating a few red herring."

In the early hours of January 11, Menlo Park Officer Lou Tommei spotted a sea lion loping westbound on Willow Road. Unsure how to deal with the critter, Officer Tommei and other officers tried to coax her to safety, even offering dog treats. No luck.

While waiting for help from the Marine Mammal Center, the sea lion led officers on a two-hour waddle in pouring rain around the area and across the busy Bayfront Expressway. At times the police had to close all lanes of both northbound and southbound Bayfront Expressway, as well as westbound Willow Road.

John Pellandini of Pacifica, a volunteer with the Marine Mammal Center, arrived around 2:45 a.m. With the help of five police officers, he was able to safely capture and contain the adventurous mammal. After spending the night in the Pellandini garage, she was transported to Marin later in the day.

Once she is eating and acting like a normal sea lion, she will be released at Point Reyes National Seashore, said Mr.Oswald.

The Bayfront area is popular with sea lions foraging for food. In September, a sea lion was picked up by rescuers after he wandered over to the Dumbarton Bridge's toll plaza. Last year 42 sea lions were rescued in San Mateo County and treated for disease or sickness at the mammal center, said Mr. Oswald.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.