Capitola >> A distressed sea lion found near Hooper Beach on Monday is in good hands after it was rescued by officials from the Marine Mammal Center in Moss Landing.

The sea lion was found about 3:30 p.m. on the beach and was unusually lethargic, said Shelbi Stoudt, a stranding and data manager for the center.

The sea lion weighed an estimated 133 pounds and was either a young male or an adult female, Stoudt said.

While rescuers already named the distressed sea lion — Seamus in light of St. Patrick”s Day — the animal has yet to be examined fully.

It was at least the second sea lion rescued from Santa Cruz County recently. In early March, a couple vacationing from Hawaii spotted a sea lion with fishing wire wrapped around its neck near Pajaro Dunes. That sea lion, named Pua, was rescued, treated and will be returned to the ocean, officials said.

Seamus will be transported to a lab in Sausalito where it will get a full examination and treatment.

There”s a strong possibility the animal is suffering from domoic acid toxicity, a condition where the animal has a high concentration of diatom in its system. Diatom, a type of algae that”s common in the Monterey Bay, is not toxic itself, Stoudt said. The algae is eaten by fish, which in turn are eaten by the sea lions, Stoudt said.

When sea lions eat fish and begin to accumulate a high amount of the algae, it has a poisonous effect.

There have been recent reports of high levels of diatom in the Monterey Bay, though the exact cause is unknown, Stoudt said.

In the past two weeks, rescuers have been called to aid six sea lions in the Monterey Bay, she said.

The animals have show signs of diatom poisoning, such as being in a comatose condition or suffering from a seizure, Stoudt said.

“Domoic acid toxicity is the most common and most likely outcome,” she said.

While Stoudt couldn”t say whether the number was high or low, she added that “it is a high prevalence for that short time period.”

Animals suffering from domoic acid toxicity can be treated, though they are monitored for some time to make sure the condition isn”t chronic.

While poisoned animals may seem lethargic, Stoudt said anyone who sees an animal should stay away from it.

“The main thing to get across is they are wild animals and they can bite and have diseases that are transmittable,” she said.

The best option is to leave the animals alone and call the Marine Mammal Center”s 24-hour rescue hotline 831-633-6298.

To report an animal in need, call 831-633-6298 or go to marinemammalcenter.org.