Sea lion lays claim to sailboat

An uninvited visitor wasn't eager to disembark from a Whatcom County family's boat Sunday.

Lynnea Flarry was picnicking with her family on Clark Island, northeast of Orcas Island, Sunday afternoon when her daughter-in-law saw an intruder on the family's sailboat, which was anchored to a buoy offshore.

The large sea lion had climbed aboard the family's 31-foot Catalina sailboat using a ladder that extended into the water from the boat's stern, Flarry said.

Though Flarry's family thought the animal was a seal, it was actually most likely a California sea lion, according to Sarah Rages, seasonal rehabilitator at Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Friday Harbor. Wolf Hollow staff, which saw photos of the animal, said it was likely a 2- or 3-year-old female.

Flarry said her son and grandchildren took a dingy back to the boat to check out the animal.

"When they got close [she] hid [her] head behind the lifesaver like a little kid who hides behind a curtain and doesn't realize his toes are sticking out," Flarry said.

After snapping a few photos, the family did its best to encourage the sea lion to disembark, but to no avail.

"He was on there for more than an hour," Flarry said.

Eventually Flarry's son used a boat hook to gently nudge the animal toward the water, and the animal dived in after about 20 minutes.

Flarry's granddaughter stayed on the boat while the rest of the group went back to shore in the dingy. The girl took photos as the sea lion was swimming in circles around the boat. Soon enough, the animal had climbed back up the ladder onto the boat, where he proceeded to sun himself again.

"She was so busy snapping pictures she forgot to bring the ladder up," Flarry said.