Pregnant sea lion wanders onto California golf course, gets escorted back to the ocean

After making a surprise visit and soaking up some sun, a pregnant sea lion was ushered back to the ocean after wandering onto a golf course in California, according to media reports.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa staff in Carlsbad contacted SeaWorld’s rescue team to assist the animal, Dorian Lucas of the hotel said in an email to McClatchy News.

When the team arrived, the animal didn’t appear to be in distress, according to Fox 5 News.

“She was comfy, cozy on the golf course,” SeaWorld Animal Rescue program supervisor Jeni Smith told Fox 5 News.

The team transferred the sea lion to a rescue truck and took her to Carlsbad State Beach to return her to the ocean, Tracy Spahr, a publicist with SeaWorld, told NBC 7.

“The ocean is the best location for her to be and give birth when she is ready,” Spahr told NBC 7.

Officials said they believe with the high tide the night prior, the sea lion had traveled through a lagoon to get to the golf course, NBC News reported.

This story was originally published June 24, 2022 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Pregnant sea lion wanders onto California golf course, gets escorted back to the ocean."

Daniella Segura

McClatchy DC

Daniella Segura is a national real-time reporter with McClatchy. Previously, she’s worked as a multimedia journalist for weekly and daily newspapers in the Los Angeles area. Her work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She is also an alumnus of the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley.