Tow Truck Saves Stuck Sea Lion In East Palo Alto

EAST PALO ALTO (CBS SF) - A sea lion found stuck in mud in an East Palo Alto creek was rescued Thursday night with the help of volunteers and a local towing company, a Marine Mammal Center spokeswoman said Friday.

The animal, which has been named Verbena after Verbena Drive in the area it was located, was brought in to the center around 9:30 p.m., said center spokeswoman Cheryl Reiss.

The sea lion was lethargic and underweight, but has not yet been examined by center veterinarians to determine what is wrong with it, Reiss said.

Marine Mammal Center volunteers described the rescue as "challenging" and "difficult," Reiss said, and a local towing company, A&J Towing, was called in to assist in pulling the animal from the mud.

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