Stand Up Paddler Has Amazing Encounter With Sea Lion Pup

SAN DIEGO, California - SUP Chicks group member, Carla Stoner, had an amazing encounter during a whale-watching session in Cardiff, San Diego. Roughly four miles from shore, a tired and dehydrated seal pup took a break on her board and spent the better part of an hour with her - an experience she described as 'spiritual'. Here is how the incident went down, in her own words...

By Carla Stoner/ Video shared by Paige Nelson

"Yesterday a group of us went whale watching 4 miles straight out from Cardiff. A very small sea lion pup raced through the water and hopped on my board. I got on my knees so I wouldn't fall in and put my paddle between us, because I didn't know what he was going to do. He slipped under my paddle and began nuzzling me and searched my entire front including my neck and face with his nose and whiskers - he was looking for milk! He checked my back too.

I had water in my camelback and offered it to him. He actually drank it after realizing it wasn't food. He then snuggled into my lap, wrapped his body around mine so that the sun hit him straight on and fell asleep for about 45 minutes. A couple of friends raced into shore to call Sea World Marine Mammal rescue, as it was clear he was undernourished and dehydrated. With a friend by my side, I managed to paddle in just past the surfline. What was interesting was that when I paddled on his side, he wanted to snap at the paddle at first. 

When she's not rescuing sea lion pups and going for 4 mile paddles, Carla is still in the water.

One of the girls that paddled in before came out to tell us that Sea World would arrive in about 20 min. So, we waited. When we got the signal, the same friend read the swell (it was pumping yesterday) and guided us in. When we reached the sand, the pup jumped off. I told him it was alright and he looked at me for direction, so I patted my board and he jumped back on.

Carla Stoner

The rescuers tried to catch him with a net, but he got away and returned to the sea. I was very disappointed that SW didn't catch him. I felt really bad for him - just before swimming away he turned around and took one last look at me. I sure hope he made it. They (the people from Sea World) explained that this is very common during this time of year...pup season. They have a section quarantined off at their facility where they rehad these little guys then release them back where they found them. This experience is the most spiritual thing that has ever happened to me. That pup completely trusted me - it was a gift to say the least  

Be On The Lookout

Carla asked us to express that right now, during pup season, young sea lion are known to run into difficulties after their mothers cut them off. Sea lion pups have a very short parenting period before they're sent out into the wild to fend for themselves. If you do happen to spot a sea lion or seal pup in distress, contact Sea World Marine Mammal Rescue on 1 800 541- SEAL (7325).

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