A young sea lion that wandered onto a San Rafael street over the weekend is being treated for symptoms of a serious bacterial infection at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, officials said.
Reports came into San Rafael police department on Saturday morning about the sea lion, dubbed “Pointer” by police, wandering on Point San Pedro Road.
San Rafael police and firefighters, along with a volunteer from the mammal center, helped usher it off the road and into Point San Pedro Bay Park, where the sea lion took advantage of the sprinklers.
The Marine Mammal Center was called and took Pointer to its facility in Sausalito. The sea lion had symptoms of leptospirosis, a dangerous bacterial infection that can cause kidney failure, said Giancarlo Rulli, spokesperson for the center.
On Monday, the sea lion was in guarded condition and was being treated with antibiotics and fluids.
Leptospirosis outbreaks among sea lions have become more frequent due to climate change.