Scared Sea Lion Pup Settles in Under Squad Car

Why did the sea lion cross the road? The better question might be: How did he get there?

A sea lion pup showed up in lanes of traffic on Richmond Parkway near Giant Highway in Richmond just before 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

When officers got there, the little pup hid under squad cars.

Cops eventually got it out and into a carrier case. It's now at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito and appears to be in good health.

Wildlife experts speculate the pup may have come from the ocean at San Pablo Bay or possibly a nearby creek.

Marine mammal rescuers used a towel to pick up the 30-pound pup. A dispatcher at the rescue center's 24-hour telephone hotline said the youngster was not injured, just lost and a little scared.

Center spokeswoman Shelbi Stoudt said the pup is resting in a dry pen and waiting for its veterinary examination, which should be in a couple  days.

Stoudt said babies usually wander when they are malnourished or  have neurological problems and in this case the baby was "probably just hungry."

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