Somebody stole a baby sea lion from its mother on Dockweiler State Beach today, and a wildlife expert warned the thieves may suffer unpleasant surprises: nasty bites and federal prosecution.
“They (sea lions) have a bite 10 times greater than a pit bull,” said Pete Wallerstein of Marine Animal Rescue. “Someone may have gotten bitten.”
Wallerstein security officers from the Dockweiler State Beach literally came to his nearby home about 3:30 a.m. to report that two baby sea lions came to shore and that one had become stuck in some bushes.
He said that when he arrived at the scene he was able to free the baby sea lion, but was told by two Los Angeles police officers that people had taken the other one.
The persons wrapped the sea lion pup up in a blanket and drove away, which is a federal crime.
“That’s going to be tough because most people don’t know how to feed them. And to take them comes with a $10,000 fine and a year in prison,” Wallerstein said.
“It’s hard to feed them and they need water.”
Wallerstein said it was commonplace for baby sea lions to come ashore.
“They’re all the place. They’re all over the park (Dockweiler State Beach). They’re having a problem with starving,” he said.”
An LAPD spokeswoman said the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, a federal agency, was conducting an investigation into the kidnapped baby sea lion.
