The Department of Fisheries and Oceans are preparing to help a sea lion in Cowichan Bay that has a plastic strap wrapped around it's throat.
The BC Marine Mammal Network was notified of the animal a few days ago, and have been monitoring it to determine if it will be staying in the area.
It is one of hundred of sea lions in the Cowichan Bay area, feeding on the spawning salmon.
Paul Cottrell, Marine Mammal Coordinator with the DFO, says the sea lion appears to have a plastic packing band wrapped around it's neck, which can be lethal. He says because it doesn't deteriorate, it can become deeply embedded in the neck, causing further injuries, infection, and sometimes death.
Cottrell says the DFO is working with the Vancouver Aquarium, who have a veterinarian who can tranquilize the sea lion. He says "It takes quite an effort to get all these experts and teams together to go out and do this." He says they plan to go help the sea lion in the next week, and since they will have a team together, they will go to Race Rocks, where there have been other reports of similarly neck banded animals that need assistance.
Cottrell adds that they receive a lot of reports like these each year, and he is grateful for the Vancouver Aquarium's assistance in helping the animals.