Update 11am Wednesday

A crew from Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife arrived to remove a stranded California Sea Lion from the beach at Seacrest Park on Wednesday. WDFW people corralled and coaxed him using plywood panels for defense and blocking to get the apparently injured or sick animal into a cage aboard the waiting vessel. He will be taken to a WDFW facility an official said and examined. If he is too sick or injured to return to the wild he will be euthanized and a necropsy will likely be conducted.

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An adult California Sea Lion has been stranded at West Seattle's Seacrest Park since last Friday. The animal appears to be injured or disabled, since it cannot effectively move its hindquarters. Seal Sitters, the local organization dedicated to marine mammal welfare has set up a barrier to prevent harassment. Marine mammals including seals, sea lions, sea otters, whales, and porpoises are protected by the federal laws that require the public stay 100 yards away. 

Executive Director of Seal Sitters, Robin Lindsay said, "Seal Sitters has been monitoring this ill and injured animal since Friday under challenging circumstances to keep the animal and public as safe as possible. We have been in consultation with WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations and consulting vets, weighing the best options."

It's possible the animal will be euthanized as early as today. Typically a necropsy is conducted to determine why the animal was stranded or incapable of movement whether due to disease or injury.

Normally at this time of year California Sea Lions have left Elliott Bay and Puget Sound and headed south for mating season.

A paddle board safety demonstration scheduled to take place at Seacrest will likely have to move to Cove 2 to avoid disturbing the animal.