The Department of Conservation coastal Otago biodiversity ranger said he was excited because the sea lion pupping season had started but distraught after discovering a male sea lion had died after being hit by a car on Boxing Day.
Six pups had been born in various spots around the Dunedin coastline over the past few days, and like any parent, he was worried about them during this vulnerable time of their lives, he said.
One of the pups was stillborn, but the others were all fit and healthy, with "four flippers and their mother’s eyes".
It was not yet known how much each weighed.
"It’s well and truly started. It’s always a roller-coaster though. There’s anxiety - with life, there’s death. You get the full gamut of emotions."
That meant sea lions would be out and about, possibly crossing roads on their way back and forth from their pups.
At the same time, it was coming up to breeding season again and there was a "cat and mouse game" going on between the males and females.
"The females are hiding away inland with their pups and the males are looking for them ... It puts them all at risk on our coastal roads."
He said 4-year-old male sea lion Huna was hit by a car on Boxing Day and was discovered dead on the side of a road near Smaills Beach yesterday.
Mr Fyfe reiterated his warning to drivers to be extra vigilant while travelling on coastal roads, and to watch out for the endemic mammals on, or near, the road.
Over the past few weeks, at least six pregnant females had been seen near roads on Otago Peninsula, at Taieri Mouth, in Brighton and in John Wilson Ocean Dr.
"So people need to be quite vigilant about them at this time of year — being in places that you wouldn’t normally expect them, like tracks down to the beaches.
"Our advice at this time of year is to keep your distance and be respectful of them.
"If you can find a different route to bypass them, you should take it."
Mr Fyfe also recommended people keep dogs on leads from their car until they got to the beach to avoid any issues.
