Why did the California elephant seal cross the road?

“There’s nothing”, said California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay. The area around the creek is muddy and the seal, which wildlife officials described as healthy and in good condition, weighs in at an estimated 900 pounds. “So she was moving us pretty easily, a lot of force”.

Several times the seal was ushered back to the water, only to make a run for the highway again.

Regardless, she must have been a big fan of “The O.C.” to throw caution to the wind and say, “California, here I come”.

A seal slowed traffic on Highway 37 near Sears Point in California on Monday, December 29, 2015. The mammal center said on Facebook that a search of the other side of the highway showed nothing that could be of interest to an elephant seal, including a possible pup. Marine mammal experts believed the seal was attempting to get to the dry land across the highway so she could give birth.

The “very large, very determined” seal was trying to climb over the center divider. “And so far, we’ve been successful with that”, Barclay said. Workers are also taking into account the possibility that the seal is pregnant. But instead of swimming away, the animal got back on land at least twice, said Mr Barclay. “She’s very adamant she’s going to cross this stretch of roadway”, Barclay said.

Rescue teams in kayaks made multiple unsuccessful efforts to relocate the mammal to San Pablo Bay on Tuesday morning.

Officials are giving the elephant seal another 24 hours to desist in her efforts. State Fish and Wildlife wardens responded and helped guide the animal back toward the tidal waters where she then took up a spot on a mudflat. In a statement released this afternoon, the center says elephant seals return to beaches along central Calfiornia during the winter months to mate and give birth.