Tour Boat Captain Helps Save Entangled Sea Lion

A tour boat captain couldn't sleep the night before finally rescuing a sea lion he'd been trying to save for two months.

Captain Milo Wolf of the Lil' Toot tour boat in Santa Barbara Harbor first spotted the subadult sea lion with monofilament fishing line embedded in its neck back in May. The line was slowly cutting deeper into the animal's flesh as it continued to feed.

The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute wanted to help, but the sea lion was surrounded by larger bulls and impossible to reach. Weeks passed before the injured animal moved to a buoy where rescuers could get closer.

That's when Wolf became the unlikely hero. The sea lion saw his boat every single day and had grown comfortable with it. While the frightened animal would flee from rescue teams, it stayed calm around the familiar Lil' Toot.

Wolf came in on his days off for early morning rescue attempts. On Wednesday, his dedication paid off. The tour boat's presence kept the sea lion relaxed enough for Dr. Sam Dover and the CIMWI team to administer a sedative using a pole syringe.

Once the 200-pound mammal fell asleep on the water's surface, volunteers lifted it into an inflatable boat. They transferred it to the dock, placed it in a crate, and transported it to the CIMWI rehabilitation center in Gaviota.

"I was so happy I almost cried," Wolf said after the successful rescue. "I could hardly sleep last night worrying about this operation."

Dr. Dover, CIMWI's Chief Veterinarian, said this case was serious. The fishing line had begun disappearing under new muscle growth as the sea lion continued eating despite its injury. Without intervention, the wound would have caused infection and eventual organ failure.

Why This Inspires

This rescue shows what patience and compassion can accomplish. Wolf didn't have to spend his days off helping wildlife rescuers. He could have simply reported the problem and moved on. Instead, he lost sleep worrying about an injured animal and showed up again and again until they got it right.

The team's gentle approach worked because they understood the sea lion's behavior and used its trust in the tour boat to their advantage. Sometimes the best rescues aren't dramatic and fast but slow and thoughtful.

The sea lion is receiving antibiotics and care at the rehabilitation center. If its recovery continues smoothly, it could return to the ocean within a month, free from the painful fishing line that nearly cost its life.

One captain's dedication turned two months of worry into a life saved.