California Sea Lion

In the Channel Islands, California sea lions gather to mate, pup, and rest. Viewing California sea lions in the Channel Islands offers a more natural setting with sandy beaches and rocky shorelines. California sea lions have rookeries in the Channel Islands where they gather in large numbers during the breeding season. Viewing California sea lions on foot can be challenging. California sea lions can be skittish on beaches and will flush into the water if nervous. Even though they can be found in areas where humans are present, they often don't haul-out on beaches with a lot of human foot traffic. One exception is La Jolla near San Diego, CA. This would be the best place to photograph California sea lions from land.

California sea lions are excellent at climbing rocks and can be found on stand alone rocks that dot California's coastal beaches. During a whale watch, keep a keen eye to these features as sea lions can blend in quite well to their natural environment.

California sea lions are agile swimmers and spend a majority of their time feeding at sea. During the summer months California sea lions may spend several days at a time at sea, and as much as several weeks. While at sea they dive continuously, resting briefly at the surface. California sea lions can be found in open water feeding along side common dolphins and humpback whales on schooling fish such as anchovy and sardine in Southern California.

Central and Northern California have large populations of California sea lions. Jetty walls, such as the one in Monterey harbor are a favorite haul-out site for sea lions as well as sea birds. Whale watching boats in Monterey will stop along the jetty wall each trip to give passengers to view them up close. California sea lions are less likely to haul out on jetty walls in Southern California and often a lone sea lion on a jetty signals it is in poor health.

Perhaps the most famous example of California sea lions on boat docks is Pier 39 in San Fransisco, CA. Usually, sea lions docks can be seen from a boat as you travel through a harbor. You can also see sea lions on docks as you walk around a harbor such as Dana Point and Newport Beach harbors. Typically sea lions will hang around the landing's sport fishing vessels waiting for scraps from the day's fishing. Sea lions can weigh up to 500lbs and many private dock owners will use deterrents against sea lions including buckets of water, sprinklers, and spikes.

Most whale watching boats will stop at navigational buoys to observe California sea lions during their trip. This is perhaps the best opportunity to get up close portrait photographs of sea lions. Sea lions feel less threatened by boats and as long as the boat keeps a moderate distance, they will ignore the vessel. Navigational buoys in some areas can also be accessed via kayak or standup paddle board. However, sea lions are more wary if you approach them on a kayak or paddle board and will flush into the water if you approach too close. Please keep your distance.

California sea lions haul-out to rest and replenish the oils in their skin and fur. They are highly social animals and will often haul-out with other sea lions. Sea lions haul-out on sandy or rocky beaches, on coastal rocks, on Marine docks, jetties, harbor entrance buoys, and even on boats.

At sea, sea lions gather in groups called rafts. Rafts can include a few sea lions or several hundred depending on the area. The largest rafts I have seen were in Monterey Bay.

The Pacific Ocean is quite cold! When we're cold we put on a jacket, but when sea lions are cold they stick their flippers out of the water and towards the sun. Being a poorly insulated part of the body, the blood in their flippers absorbs heat which can then be circulated to the rest of the body. This process is known as thermoregulation.

When swimming, sea lions will porpoise out of the water in order to swim faster. Sea lions are fast swimmers reaching speeds of 25 mph! California sea lions feed with dolphins and whales and need to be fast in order to keep up with the bait fish they pursue!

California sea lions are opportunistic feeders that feed on a variety of prey including small schooling fish, sport fish, octopus and squid, rays and even small sharks. Sea lions cannot chew larger prey, so they bring their catch to the surface and whip it into smaller chunks. This dramatic display attracts birds to the area and photographs of the event help identify what it was eating. In the above photo, a California sea lion feeds on a bat ray in Newport Beach, CA.

Sea lions are very social and can be seen cuddling, arguing over haul-out spots, chasing, and playing with each other. Photography opportunities abound with these charismatic personalities!

Sea lions are known for their classic bark. Often, you'll hear sea lions before seeing them! Barks and yawns make excellent opportunities for a dynamic photograph highlighting their prominent whiskers and canine-like teeth.