Last week, an unusual traffic hazard started popping up in reports gathered by Cosmopolis Police Chief Heath Layman in Washington state. Drivers claimed a sea lion was relaxing right in the middle of a wooded roadway — several miles inland from the ocean.
“At first I honestly thought someone was joking,” Layman told The Dodo. “But then another driver flagged me down with the same story. That’s when I decided to go see for myself.”
Layman had every reason to doubt it — nothing like this had ever come his way before. But when he arrived, he was greeted with a very unexpected sight:
There, sitting confidently in the eastbound lane, was a full-grown California sea lion. Layman had imagined he might find a small seal, not a large marine mammal calmly claiming the road for itself.
The animal, likely having traveled up a nearby river connected to the coast, showed absolutely no interest in moving. Layman parked his patrol car in a protective position to keep traffic away, but the sea lion seemed unimpressed by the suggestion that it vacate its chosen spot.
To get some assistance, Layman contacted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Fortunately, before long, the sea lion made the decision on its own — slipping off the road and heading back toward the river.
Although the encounter ended safely, it’s one Layman won’t forget.
“In my 28 years with this department, I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “Definitely a one-of-a-kind day.”