A sea lion pup named Hoppie is recovering after swimming up the San Joaquin River and winding up in an orchard at Mape's Ranch in Modesto, Calif. -- roughly 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
Ranch hands quickly contacted wildlife officials after discovering the animal on March 31, the Merced Sun-Star newspaper reported Tuesday.
A Marine Mammal Center volunteer eventually enticed the wayward sea lion into a cage, where it fell asleep. Hoppie is now recovering at the center, the newspaper reported.
Officials don't know why the sea lion left the river or how the animal hopped such a long distance on land.