In recent weeks, beachgoers in coastal communities ranging from Sunset Cliffs to Black’s Beach have reported a high number of sick sea lions and seals in need of rescue. The recent spike of distressed pinnipeds may concern local animal lovers, but animal-care specialists at SeaWorld San Diego said the upswing is actually nothing out of the ordinary. “This is our rescue season. This is the height of it,” said SeaWorld spokeswoman Kelly Terry. “We’re on track to have an average season, which is about 200 rescues a year.” Year after year, SeaWorld’s animal-care specialists rescue hundreds of sea lions, seals and birds in Southern California, with the occasional whale or dolphin rescue added to the mix. California sea lions are the most commonly rescued marine mammals, followed by elephant seal pups and harbor seals, according to officials with SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Program,. Last year, SeaWorld experienced a light season with only 60 pinniped rescues in San Diego, said Terry. Busy years, like ones bringing El Niño weather conditions, can send rescue numbers soaring to more than 400 rescues in a single year. The seasonal spike is primarily the result of pups’ lessons on tough love and growing up. “A lot of the younger animals are just getting weaned from mom and they’re not always prepared to catch fish on their own,” said Terry. “Once they can’t catch fish — that’s how they get their hydration — they get dehydrated.” So far this year, SeaWorld has rescued 24 marine mammals, including 20 sea lions, two elephant seals and two harbor seals from areas all along San Diego’s coastline. “Most of the ones we’ve seen in the last week have been dehydrated, malnourished and underweight,” Terry said. “One of the first things we do is give them a veterinary examination to see if there are any other issues or infections. Typically, it’s just getting them rehydrated and getting them fattened up. They stay in our care from six to eight weeks if they’re not showing any signs of infections.” In most cases, dehydrated pups learn their hard-knock life lessons and are back on their fins in no time. Occasionally, however, the pinnipeds are victims of circumstance. On March 9, one sea lion was rescued after becoming entangled in fishing gear at the base of Devil’s Slide near La Jolla Cove. Rescuers had to rappel down a cliff for the dramatic rescue, cut the fishing gear off — including removing a hook in the sea lion’s mouth — and release the sea lion back into the open water. In another instance in February, SeaWorld rescuers found an injured sea lion — which was named “Valentine” by SeaWorld staff — with an infected bullet wound to her left flipper. Although Valentine is still under the park staff’s care, she is doing well and will be released in a couple weeks, said Terry. Most recently, SeaWorld rescuers and San Diego lifeguards rescued a 12-month-old pup in South Mission Beach, an elephant seal in Sunset Cliffs and two fully-grown male sea lions at La Jolla Cove — including one that weighed 300 pounds. The pup and elephant seal suffered from dehydration, and examinations are still ongoing for the two grown male sea lions. At the time of publication, the number of sea lions and seals in SeaWorld’s care totaled 18. For beachgoers who encounter a marine mammal that appears to be in distress, Terry recommends notifying a lifeguard on duty first to check whether or not the animal is, in fact, ill or in danger. “If you observe an animal and you have doubts about the animal’s well-being, contact a lifeguard or other authority,” said Terry, explaining that sometimes the mammal is simply asleep or the mother has only left her pup for a short time. “It’s strongly advised not to touch the animal. It is dangerous because they can bite or have an infection. It is also a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Leave it to the experts. Contact a lifeguard or call our seal hotline.” If the animal is determined to be in distress, Terry urged beachgoers to call SeaWorld’s animal rescue hotline at (800) 541-SEAL (7325).