Lassoing a Wayward Sea Lion Just Part of the Gig for Oregon Coast Deputies

Published 12/20/25 at 10:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) – Sometimes police work on the Oregon coast has its truly laughable moments. And every once in a while it's adorable as well as humorous.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an unusual roadside visitor on December 20, 2025, after a young steller sea lion was spotted moving along the shoulder of U.S. Highway 101 near Milepost 146. This is near the South Beach area.

While the LCSO posted it was a seal, Keith Chandler of Seaside Aquarium told Oregon Coast Beach Connection this was actually a young steller sea lion.

Deputies quickly moved to keep the animal from entering traffic. And what do you do when you have to guide a single-minded sea lion?

Lasso it. Deputies started using a rope as a lead to guide it away from the roadway.

With help from nearby community members, deputies contacted the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and a staff member arrived to safely secure the sea lion and return it to its natural habitat. The Sheriff’s Office thanked both the Oregon State Police and the aquarium for their assistance.

“We wish our new pinniped pal all the best on his journey,” the agency said in a statement.

Officials used the incident as a reminder that Lincoln County’s highways run through habitat shared with a wide range of wildlife. Drivers may encounter deer, elk, birds - and occasionally marine mammals - and are urged to remain alert.

In cases where a collision with wildlife cannot be avoided, authorities advise contacting the Oregon State Police at 541-265-5353 or *677 from a mobile phone, particularly if the animal is protected under Oregon law or the incident occurs on a state highway, in a state park, or on the beach.

- If you’re in the cities of Lincoln City, Newport, or Toledo; Contact the city police department:
--Lincoln City Police Department Dispatch (non-emergency) – 541-994-3636
--Newport Police Department Dispatch (non-emergency – 541-574-5807
--Toledo Police Department Dispatch (non-emergency) – 541-336-5555
-If you’re in any other part of Lincoln County or if the animal involved is a pet or livestock; Contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 541-265-0777

Chandler said the big difference between seals and sea lions is the ears: only sea lions or fur seals have the ears visible on the outside. Chandler added that although the spots almost resemble a fur seal, they have pointeir noses than sea lions. This one has the nose of a sea lion.

This is not the first time coastal law enforcement have handled a marine mammal on the move. In 2021, Lincoln City police responded to a female sea lion wandering through the Taft district near SE 51st Street. Officers quickly located the animal - nicknamed “Tiffany” - and established a perimeter to keep her safe until she could be guided away from traffic.

Yet Tiffany posed a unique problem: she did not want to move.

“Tiffany was very content on staying in the middle of the roadway and slowly moved closer to Hwy 101,” the LCPD said on social media.

The attending state police wildlife expert said he'd never encountered anything like this in his 20 years of being in the area. Indeed, all this set in motion something truly different for officers on scene for the next two hours.

First up was the attempt to entice the animal with her favorite dish: seafood. The goal was to get her to go back into the water with as little stress to the animal as possible.

One officer was dispatched to nearby Kenny's IGA Village Market to explain they needed gobs of fish to bait this runaway sea lion with. Staff donated several packages of fish and refused to take money, insisting they wanted to do whatever they could to help the curious sea lion out. See Rogue Sea Lion Roams Lincoln City Streets - Central Oregon Coast

Numerous attempts later, they had to try the old fashioned method of boxing the little girl in and nudging her - slowly - towards the nearest beach access some three blocks away.

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