A California sea lion pup wandered away from its habitat and onto the streets of San Francisco early Thursday morning.
San Francisco Police Department officers spotted the pup at the intersection of 48th Avenue and Irving Street, about two blocks from Ocean Beach, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department said. The discovery was made at about 1:30 a.m., according to KGO-TV.
The officers and parks department staff named the pup “Irving.” With help from a volunteer from the nonprofit Marine Mammal Center, they got the pup into a crate to be taken elsewhere, city parks officials said on social media.
W/ help from @SFPD officers, a nearby @TMMC volunteer, & Park Rangers Smith, Lawli, Wannamaker, & Gertsbacher, the pup was safely placed in a crate provided by the @oceanavehosp & taken to our ranger station to await transfer.
: Katie Young © The Marine Mammal Center pic.twitter.com/9DwWsrN0zD
— San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (@RecParkSF) April 16, 2026
Authorities handed Irving over to the nonprofit, which operates in California and Hawaii. The Marine Mammal Center said on social media that Irving is now receiving veterinary care so that center personnel can determine its sex, exact age, overall condition and any underlying ailments.
Marine Mammal Center spokesperson Giancarlo Rulli told the San Francisco Chronicle that Irving is estimated to be 10 months old. Normally, pups of that age would still be with their mothers, nursing and learning life skills such as swimming and hunting.
The Marine Mammal Center said on social media that “it’s unknown why Irving was away from their usual habitat.”
