A man was taken into police custody and faces charges for animal cruelty and possession of a controlled substance after he was allegedly seen on security footage beating a sick sea lion with a stick.
Christopher Hurtado, 32, was arrested Tuesday by Ventura police officers after surveillance footage appeared to show him attacking the beached marine mammal along the Ventura Beach promenade.
Ventura Police Department employees were monitoring a beach camera at the time when they witnessed Hurtado hitting the sea lion multiple times with a large stick, officials said.
Police officers were dispatched to the scene and took Hurtado into custody after he tried to flee on foot. Officers also recovered methamphetamine on his person, they said.
He’s since been booked into the Ventura County Jail to await felony charges for animal cruelty and possession of a controlled substance, as well as charges for violating federal laws meant to protect marine mammals.
The sea lion, officials said, was suffering from domoic acid poisoning, a naturally occurring toxin in algae that is potentially lethal to marine mammals like sea lions and dolphins. In recent years, high levels of the neurotoxin have led to widespread beachings of sea lions and other marine mammals who are too sick to swim and may experience life-threatening symptoms like seizures, brain damage and unpredictable behavior.
The toxin will naturally flush out of an animal’s body, but repeated exposure may require medical intervention. Officials say it’s critically important that a sick animal be left alone to protect them and the public.
The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute responded to monitor this particular sea lion’s health. It has since taken the animal into its treatment center for observation.
“At arrival, she was responsive yet appeared to have clinical signs of domoic acid toxicosis. Our medical team determined the best course of action was to not induce further stress today,” officials for CIMWI said. “She is under observation and resting comfortably at this time. [Wednesday], we will conduct a complete physical exam with diagnostic testing.”
The Ventura Police Department said it is vital that the public cooperate in protecting the region’s local wildlife. That includes giving marine mammals adequate space and not touching, moving or feeding them when they are beached.
“Your cooperation can prevent dangerous encounters for both people and wildlife,” a press release from the Police Department states.
Marine mammals, including seals and sea lions, are protected at the state and federal level, and if you come across one that is injured or sick, you are encouraged to call the CIMWI rescue hotline at 805-567-1505.
