Home for the Holidays: How a Lone Sea Lion Pup Found a Lifeline in the Aleutian Islands

Just days before Christmas, staff at Westward Seafoods in Unalaska, a city in the Aleutian Islands, encountered an unexpected holiday guest: an endangered Steller sea lion pup. On Sunday, December 21, 2025, staff first spotted the young pup sheltering in a doorway before wandering through the seafood plant, eventually settling in a workroom. Recognizing the animal was in distress, community members alerted the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network and provided photos of the pup.

The photos showed that the pup, a male estimated to be 6 months old, was quite thin, suggesting he had been separated from his mother for several days. Because Steller sea lion pups are dependent on their mothers for at least a year, finding a lone pup was very concerning. As a first step, the Stranding Network team coordinated with Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist Asia Beder to lead a search for the mother.

While the search was underway, the pup quickly captured the hearts of the local community and became known as "Westley." "When the pup was making his way around the Westward Seafoods plant, he acquired several nicknames," said Beder. "To acknowledge the assistance the Westward staff provided, 'Westley' seemed like the best fit."

Unfortunately, the efforts to locate Westley's mother were unsuccessful. Although other sea lions were nearby, none appeared to be looking for a missing pup.

Planning a Response

NOAA Fisheries Stranding Network staff Barbara Mahoney and Steller Sea Lion Recovery Coordinator Kim Raum-Suryan began looking for a rehabilitation center to care for Westley. They were concerned about his poor condition and knew he could not survive on his own.

They first reached out to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, to see if they had capacity to take on a new patient.

Their rehabilitation center was at capacity after a very busy summer season, including a recent admission of a ringed seal pup and other animals. Their staff also knew that it was in Westley's best interest to find a rehabilitation center that could provide a social group.

They contacted The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California for assistance. The Center specializes in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of abandoned, injured, or sick marine mammals along 600 miles of California coast and the Big Island of Hawai'i. They have previous experience with Steller sea lions. Luckily, they had space to accommodate Westley and already had a cohort of California sea lions in rehabilitation he could join.

Going on an Adventure

With the rehabilitation site identified, the challenge shifted to transporting Westley more than 2,300 miles south. We worked with the Centers, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Aleutian Airways, and local volunteers. Through our coordinated efforts, we transported Westley in a large kennel from Unalaska to Anchorage on December 22.

To ensure his health during the long journey, Westley traveled from Anchorage to Seward for a brief layover at the Alaska Sea Life Center. He was able to stretch his flippers while the team gave him some fluids, a snack, and a quick veterinary exam. From there, he began the final phases of his journey, taking a flight from Anchorage to Seattle, Washington, and then onward to San Francisco, California. After a final 1-hour drive from the airport, Westley arrived at the Center's hospital and visitor center in Sausalito on December 24-just in time for Christmas.

Making Friends and Gaining Strength

No longer alone for the holidays, Westley quickly settled into his new space. He adapted to sharing a rehabilitation pool with two male California sea lion pup patients at the Center. This companionship in a rehabilitation setting is helping him stay active and reinforcing wild behaviors as he rapidly gains weight and builds strength. Westley weighed only 110 pounds when he arrived at the Center. Within 9 weeks, he more than doubled in size, weighing 256 pounds at the end of February.

A healthy Steller sea lion pup typically weighs around 220 pounds by the time they are a year old. Thanks to the excellent care Westley is receiving at the Center, he has surpassed that benchmark and is continuing to grow. As an adult male, a Steller sea lion like Westley can grow up to 11 feet in length and weigh as much as 2,500 pounds. In comparison, his California sea lion penmates can reach lengths of up to 7 feet and weigh between 600-850 pounds.

Why is Westley the Steller Sea Lion Pup Important?

There are two populations of Steller sea lions along the west coast of the United States and Canada. These populations are genetically and physically different, making them distinct population segments . Westley belongs to the western DPS of Steller sea lions, which is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act . This population is primarily located west of Cape Suckling in Alaska.

The western DPS of Steller sea lions declined by as much as 80 percent between the 1970s and 2000s. While there has been a slow increase in the overall population since 2003, numbers continue to decline in the central and western Aleutian Islands, where Westley was found. Recent data indicate population declines in the eastern and central Gulf of Alaska, so every Steller sea lion in the population is important.

The eastern DPS ranges along the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and southeast Alaska, east of Cape Suckling. This population was previously listed as threatened under the ESA, but based on positive population trends over several decades, it was delisted in 2013 .

The Journey to Recovery

Because Westley is part of the endangered western DPS, the ultimate goal is to return him to western Alaska. The team hopes to release him once he demonstrates he has learned the skills needed to feed and survive on his own.

"Returning Westley to his home waters is not only a legal requirement-it's the best way to ensure that he is in an ecosystem where he is well-equipped to survive," said Raum-Suryan. "By returning home, he can contribute to future generations of western DPS Steller sea lions."

For now, Westley continues to thrive in Sausalito, building the weight and endurance necessary for the long trip back to Alaska where his adventure began.

How Can You Help?

If you see an entangled, injured, or dead marine mammal, call the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network 24 hour hotline at (877) 925-7773. Please do not attempt to touch, handle, or return a marine mammal to the water. Provide photos, GPS coordinates, and other descriptive details to the Stranding Hotline so NOAA Fisheries can determine the best way to respond to the situation.