Wayward sea lion startles drivers on Highway 101

[Kadie]

Wayward sea lion startles drivers on Highway 101
Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, October 1, 2011



A sea lion perches on a stump after crossing eight lanes of traffic on Highway 101.
Photo: Laura Terada / Burlingame Police Department



Oblivious to speeding cars and trucks, a California sea lion crossed eight lanes of traffic and a concrete median on Highway 101 Saturday morning, exiting at Broadway before Burlingame police pulled him over.

"Drivers were calling us, saying 'I swear I'm not drunk, but there's a sea lion in the middle of the freeway,' " said Burlingame police Cpl. Laura Terada. "There were zero accidents because of this, which is amazing."

The incident happened around 7 a.m., when motorists reported the sea lion flopping westward - apparently heading from nearby San Francisco Bay across the freeway to the sleepy Peninsula suburb.

When police and animal rescuers arrived, the errant pinniped had perched himself on a tree stump alongside the Broadway off-ramp.

"He couldn't look more calm, like he owned the place," said Dustin Lorensen of the Peninsula Humane Society, which contracts with San Mateo County for wildlife rescue. "He looked as relaxed as the ones at Pier 39."


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/01/BA4I1LCBCB.DTL#ixzz1ZaEqbOmj


:)

[Brigid]

1. He looks like he knows how to pose for pictures.

:)

[Voice for Peace]

2. he's a beauty.. glad he wasn't hit by a truck

[WhiteTara]

3. Sea Lion evolution! Adapt or die! n/t

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

4. Sea Lion joins "Occupy Together"