Rescued California Sea Lion Will be Euthanized

SAUSALITO, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities say a sea lion that was rescued after stranding itself for the third time this year will be euthanized because she has extreme brain damage and can't survive either in captivity or the wild.

Crews from the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito were called out Saturday afternoon after the 170-pound sea lion was found wandering near an elementary school in the Contra Costa County community of Knightsen -- two miles from water.

Center spokeswoman Jim Oswald tells the Contra Costa Times that the 5-year-old animal has domoic acid poisoning, an illness caused when sea lions eat fish that have consumed toxic algae. It destroys the brain and the animal's navigational skills.

The sea lion also was rescued in May and July in Santa Cruz County.