Entangled California sea lion rescued at Race Rocks
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR), working in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), successfully disentangled an adult male California sea lion on August 17 at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve near Metchosin, B.C.
The approximately 280-kilogram (617-pound) California sea lion was first reported on August 1 with a plastic packing band wrapped around his neck, posing a significant risk to his health.
After two weeks of waiting for a safe weather window, and despite dense fog, the rescue team located the entangled animal with the help of a DFO drone. VAMMR Head Veterinarian and Executive Director Dr. Martin Haulena sedated the sea lion via dart gun, and the team was able to safely approach the animal and remove the packing band.
Following the successful disentanglement, the sea lion was fitted with identification tags and given medication to reverse the effects of the anesthetic. He was monitored by the VAMMR veterinary team until he was alert and sitting upright before the team left the area.
“What’s frustrating about these cases is that these injuries are preventable,” said Haulena. “Something as simple as a plastic packing band can cause significant injury to a sea lion. This is why reducing marine debris and reporting entangled animals quickly are so important.”
Nearly 60 per cent of sea lion disentanglements conducted by VAMMR involve plastic packing bands, highlighting the serious threat these seemingly small pieces of debris pose to marine wildlife.
VAMMR has pioneered specialized techniques to safely disentangle sea lions in the wild. Dr. Haulena is the only veterinarian in Canada, and one of a small number worldwide, qualified to perform this specialized procedure.
The operation was made possible through collaboration between VAMMR, DFO, Pearson College UWC and its Eco-Guardian program. Eva Crowley from the Eco-Guardian program also played a key role by first reporting the animal and continuing to monitor and report his location ahead of the rescue.
Anyone who encounters a marine mammal that appears sick, injured, or in distress should call Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Observe, Record, Report/Marine Mammal Incident Hotline at 1-800-465-4336 or VAMMR’s Marine Mammal Rescue Hotline at 604-258-SEAL (7325).
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society
VAMMR is an independent registered charity that operates Canada’s only dedicated marine mammal rescue facility. Specialized responses such as sea lion disentanglements rely on donor support to help fund the veterinary expertise, equipment and resources needed to respond to marine mammals in distress.