California Sea Lion Recovering After Being Found on Highway, Shot in Jaw

A California sea lion spotted crawling along a major highway is safe and sound after suffering a gunshot wound to the jaw.

The sea lion, named Broadway Bound by rescuers, is a female and weighs approximately 132 pounds, according to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, where she is recuperating after a misadventure on Highway 101.

The sea lion was seen getting off of the Burlingame exit Saturday morning, The Associated Press reported.

She was spotted by the California Highway Patrol, who notified the Center about the wayward sea lion at approximately 7 a.m.

She was put into a carrier and taken to the hospital at approximately 8:45 a.m., according to the Center.

She did not seem too happy at all the attention being lavished on her, especially when rescuers used a net to transport her.

Veterinarians decided to give her some peace and quiet when she arrvied and was placed into an outdoor pen, the Center said on its Web site. Given all of the stress she underwent being on a busy Bay Area highway and then being rescued, who would blame her!

Center officials are also testing Broadway Bound for domoic acid poisoning. Domoic acid is a biotoxin produced by algae that can build up in anchioves, sardines and shellfish, according to the Center Web site.

They are developing a treatment plan for Broadway Bound and hope she will be able to eat fish on her own soon.