Rehabilitated California sea lion returned to ocean after veterinarians found two bullets lodged in its skull

Rescue, diagnosis, and rehabilitation

A male California sea lion rescued along the Los Angeles County coastline was returned to the Pacific Ocean after completing veterinary treatment that revealed gunshot trauma: two bullets embedded in its skull, including one lodged behind the eye. The animal was recovered in early January from Ballona Creek, a channelized waterway that drains to Santa Monica Bay near Marina del Rey, after responders found it lethargic and in distress.

Veterinary intake exams identified a serious medical emergency unrelated to the ballistic injuries: leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can cause kidney failure and can be fatal without rapid treatment. Blood tests also showed concerning liver abnormalities. Care teams initiated antibiotics, supportive medications, and intravenous fluids to address dehydration and stabilize organ function while monitoring feeding behavior.

During the first days in care, the sea lion showed little movement and refused food—an indicator used by wildlife hospitals to gauge severity of illness and prospects for recovery. After several days, the animal became more alert and began feeding, progressing to actively chasing live fish and later eating standard rations. Over roughly a month of rehabilitation, the sea lion regained weight and strength sufficient for release assessment.

Release back into the wild

The sea lion was cleared for release after completing treatment and demonstrating normal behaviors necessary for survival, including consistent feeding and adequate mobility. The release took place on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Rancho Palos Verdes, where it entered the surf alongside another rehabilitated sea lion that had also been treated for leptospirosis after a separate rescue in Malibu in December.

Wildlife rehabilitation programs typically require that animals can feed independently, move normally, and show stable clinical indicators before they are returned to the ocean.

Gunshot injuries as a documented human-caused threat

Gunshot trauma in marine mammals is not a routine finding, but it is a documented form of human-caused injury on the California coast. Rehabilitation records and federal incident reporting reflect that some sea lions survive shootings long enough to strand and be recovered, while others die before help arrives. Wildlife hospitals note that imaging is not performed on every patient, meaning the true number of ballistic injuries among stranded animals can be difficult to quantify.

What happens next

• Post-release monitoring is generally limited for untagged animals, though responders sometimes re-sight recognizable individuals during coastal patrols.

• The origin and timing of the gunshot injuries often cannot be determined from medical imaging alone, particularly if the wounds are older and healed.

• Cases involving suspected deliberate harm may be referred through established marine mammal stranding-network channels for potential investigation.

The release underscores both the capacity of specialized marine mammal hospitals to return critically ill wildlife to the ocean and the continuing presence of preventable, human-related injuries affecting animals that share the nearshore environment with coastal communities.