
That elephant seal caused a huge traffic jam for more than a mile in both directions on Highway 37. As of 11 p.m. it was beached in the mud, just off the shoulder of the highway, looking either distressed or too tired to do anything after a long day of trying to cross the road. It stayed there after the tide rolled back into the San Pablo Bay.
Nightfall has stopped our seal tracking. We are hoping low tide has helped her return to open water. Units will continue to check the area.
— CHP Marin (@CHPMarin) December 29, 2015
With the sun setting and he tide dropping our elephant seal adventure continues. Hoping she returns to open water. pic.twitter.com/r3Y5j36vod
— CHP Marin (@CHPMarin) December 29, 2015
Earlier, CHP Officer Andrew Barclay says he got a face-full of hot breath and saliva while trying corral this extremely irritated mammal.
Barclay said the elephant seal had "a lot of weight behind her and a lot of muscle. So she was moving us pretty easily, a lot of force."
The elephant seal hopped out of San Pablo Bay, around 1 p.m., scooted its way in front of eastbound Highway 37 traffic and tried to crawl over the median. Barclay and the others coaxed her back into the estuary.
We are still on scene SR 37 E/ of SR 121 with a sea lion that wants no part of us. Rdwy clear but traffic is heavy pic.twitter.com/q2VfypMQI4
— CHP Marin (@CHPMarin) December 28, 2015
"What we've seen is she's obviously still trying to get out of the water. She's very adamant she's going to cross this stretch of roadway," Barclay added.
The determined elephant seal made three more attempts. Marine mammal experts say she may be trying to get to the dry field on the other side because she is about to give birth.
READ MORE: Vets sedate elephant seal attempting to cross Sonoma Co. highway
"If she is about to give birth that means she is in her prime. So she's got a lot of weight, she's got a lot of strength on her, she could tear the board away from your hands if you don't hold it the proper way," Barbie Halaska from the Marine Mammal Center said.
The angry elephant seal took a gash out of the wooden board Barclay was holding. The CHP and the Marine Mammal Center say they will be monitoring it throughout the night.