Beachgoers warned to stay away from sick sea lion

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Story Published: Oct 9, 2009 at 7:48 AM PST

By Meghan Kalkstein KATU News and KATU.com Staff

SEASIDE, Ore. – Residents are outraged that no one has come to help a sick sea lion that has suffered for more than a week on the beach, but experts said Thursday there’s nothing anyone can or should do.

“I just feel like I hate to see any animal suffer needlessly,” said Kathy Gordon. “If this seal [lion] is not going to get well or improve, I think it should be removed from the beach or put down.”

Since showing up on the beach Oct. 1, neighbors have been trying to nurse the sea lion back to health.

“Within 20 minutes, she drank a gallon of water,” said one resident.

But Keith Chandler, the general manager of the Seaside Aquarium, said there’s a policy against rehabilitating or even moving the animal.

“The policy of the National Marine Fisheries Service is to stay out of it, keep humans out of it, and let it deal with it on its own,” he said.

Chandler said it is likely the sea lion has a disease called leptospirosis, which causes lethargy and weight loss. The disease is contagious to humans and dogs and that is why marine mammal experts have posted signs warning people to stay away from the animal.

Chandler said the best chance the sea lion has for survival is if people stay away from it and give it a stress-free environment.

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