This patient is a Steller sea lion, one of our least common patient species as they are not typically found in our rescue range. As the world’s largest marine mammal hospital, we sometimes provide long-term rehabilitation for Steller sea lions rescued by our partners in Northern California, Oregon and Washington state.

Many Steller sea lions we care for are orphaned pups, though this species also faces other challenges like ship strike, pollutants and negative human interaction.