South Bay sea mammals are hit hard by pounding waves

This young female sea lion was rescued from Venice Beach after being washed ashore.



Friday, December 23, 2005

South Bay sea mammals are hit hard by pounding waves

Seals and sea lions aren't used to the 15-foot breakers that have hit the coast this week. Many are treated at animal care center in San Pedro.
By Lee Peterson
Daily Breeze

You know it's big surf when even the sea lions get knocked around.

This week's massive waves along the South Bay coast made life difficult for the marine mammals, sending a few to a specialized-care center in San Pedro for medical attention.

"The ones that came in looked like they may have been beaten up by the waves," said David Bard, operations manager at the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur. In getting rolled by the breakers, they've come close to drowning and have breathed water into their lungs, which can lead to complications like pneumonia.

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Once rehabilitated, the animals are released back into the wild.

Healthy sea lions and seals will come to the beach to rest or sun themselves in normal times, but some of the animals that have beached themselves this week are ailing or injured.

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http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/2111132.html