Is this Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Sick?

Observation by Ivy-Jane Jacobsen:

It's been sitting up on the beach just putting his head up towards the sky and not making a sound or doing much of anything really I'm just basically wondering if this is normal behavior or not? Also would it because of the red tide? And I guess it's been there for the past couple of days it was in front of my neighbor's house couple of days ago and when I got off of work I looked out the window and it just moved to a different spot and was doing the same thing. Also it kind of looks sick to me anyways I just would like some input on this and I'm a little worried that its pretty close to the sewer! that's on the beach just would like some information, Thanks!

Barbara Mahoney, Acting Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator with NOAA Fisheries, writes:

I shared the King Cove SSL pictures with Dr. Brian Fadely. Dr. Fadely stated that it looked like the big guy was just chillin'! Immediately post breeding season, often times bulls will seek solitude and rest. Lethargy is a sign of PSP poisoning in California sea lions, and there is a potential for the Stellar Sea Lion to be ailing, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's PSP (which I asked Brian, since Unalaska had PSP mortality).

Is the sea lion still hanging out along the beaches in King Cove, or has he moved?

Comments from LEO Editors

During the LEO Webinar on July 21st, we learned from Ivy-Jane Jacobson that after staying on the beach for about a week, the sea lion did swim away.