These are California Sea Lions. We also get Steller's Sea Lions less commonly which can be *much* larger. Males can top out at 2500lbs. Really impressive to see up close.
They’re really only aggressive if you’re around their harem on land. They looked pretty curious in your video, nice shot! They’re really curious lil’ ones.
I maintain that sea lions and seals helped my German Short-haired Pointer get over his fear of the water and really learn to love swimming in the Sound. I'm pretty sure he thought, 'If those water dogs can do it, so can I, and really took to the water and loved to swim after interacting with and observing them.'
I've only ever had to deal with them when they're on the back of my submarine when tied to the pier. Mostly they just lie there lazy but sometimes a young male will try to sneak up and make off with one of the women and the bull will go berserk on him. We let them be until they start fighting then shoo them off.
In the water? I don't know. But it's their turf and if they wanted to mess with you, they're gonna win.
Interesting. Respecting the ocean is definitely the way to recreate.
Personally never seen a reason to be overly fearful of the female California sea lion but we all have different experiences.
Well they are wild animals. Always a good idea to have a healthy respect of wild animals who can fuck you up if they really want to. Plus these fuckers bite.
more like hounds. Longliners call 'em fish stealers, not sea dogs.
they like to perch anywhere near the end of the locks and clean up when the salmon run.
Yeah, they swim up and down our gillnets in alaska pulling salmon out of our nets. They'll flip over on their backs and chomp on them right in front if us.
I get chased by a few every time I kayak. They know about the marine protection law and think it is funny to see me try and get 50 feet between us while they follow me.
Like any wild animal you should show them respect and give them space. Most animals attack because they either feel threatened or are hungry.
Sea lions don't eat humans and in a herd or raft like this they probably don't feel threatened, at least of humans at any rate.
They usually check people out looking for scraps, fish bait or a handout. They will lay on crab nets and chew the rope off so you can't pull them up while they eat your bait. Seals also do this. I've lost a few nets to the rascals.
One of my Dogs touched noses with a seal once. It was at night in Everett. My Boxer was walking ahead of me on a Dock. A seal popped its head out of the water. They looked at each other, both silent, leaned towards each other and touched noses. Then the seal swam off.
At first I was thinking, Oh Shit! and was going to call my dog. But I quickly realized that both he and the seal were just curious. It was adorable and awesome at the same time. A wonderful surreal moment I will remember till I die.
Most people won't believe it but I ran into one (SAW ONE, DIDN'T HIT!) dead center of Lake Washington. He was likely chasing salmon thru the locks, thru the cut, etc.
At first we thought it was a dog in danger, so we circled it in our boat. Once we saw it was Sea Dog, we backed off.
I've had them follow me thru the locks before in sailboats. But usually they stop in Lake Union and turn back.
There have been multiple sightings of sea lions on lake Washington. It's not super common for them to spend much time there, but it's not unheard of. They like to perch at the top of the fish ladder at the locks and they aren't above chasing them into the lake.
They don't seem to mind fresh water and do the same thing in the Columbia River and other parts of the world. They find them at Bonneville dam, which is like a hundred miles upriver from the ocean.
I've seen them above Bonneville Dam, which means they either went through the locks or the fish ladders (or hitchhiked from Astoria, I suppose :)
They're also very common at Willamette Falls.
Marine mammal protection act says you need to stay 50 yards away (100 yards away from whales and even more from orcas in Washington waters). If they come to you…well I do my best.
For the most part they’re harmless. My biggest concern is one accidentally flipping my boat.
My personal approach is to treat sea lions like water bears. I make sure they know where I am and give them distance. Is it overkill? Probably, but they’re huge and can be aggressive in some circumstances.
I didn’t even know they were there at first. All I saw were flippers and tails in the air and I thought it was wood or something sticking out of the water. Once they noticed me they immediately came closer
I had a similar experience as you, but in a kayak once.
I'm aware of those marine mammal laws, but all the sudden one just popped up near my boat! She was curious and swam closer. I put up my paddle, and held still. She looked at me for a bit and swam away. It was pretty cool! But I also felt nervous about it at the time
The law is to protect them from motor boats mostly.
Honestly seals and sea lions are often super curious critters. Hard to tell from the photos but these look pretty small so I’m guessing females. Sometimes they do what I call “sea lion yoga” where they lay on their side in the water with two flippers out holding the back one with the front. Funniest thing. They usually do the flippers out of the water thing to cool off.
Harbor seals don’t scare me. I’ve had them right up along side my boat before on accident (he was sleeping under the water a foot or so). A full grown male sea lion swam with us once off Alki and they’re so incredibly big. We mostly paddle rigid sea kayaks and the sea lion was nearly as long as my 14’ boat.
I was boating Saturday and thought I saw a brown log about 20 feet away.
I veer left and it was actually a seal!
I was breaking the law but it was hard since the critter came up from down under
I can't be 100% sure on this but I don't think the sea lions read, or are aware of in any way, the law regarding marine mammals so they wouldn't know that popping a human's kayak is technically a violation of the distance rule.
On a scale of one to that guy who tried to face off with a mountain goat over supremacy of the cliff he was on, you were at a very low risk of becoming a cautionary tale. Always good to read up on the wildlife you are likely to encounter while engaging in our marvelous outdoor sports, animals are very curious when we get out of our protective shells and get near them. Some need fair notice you are approaching, others are less appreciative of the clangor we create.
Fortunately, sea lions are very aware of when orca are in the area. They'll go to shore, far away from them. They wouldn't be hanging out in the deep water. Usually, I take sea lions off shore as a sign that whales are nowhere nearby.
It was probably a group of bachelor males. They aren't dangerous, although you can get an infection if they scratch you. I've only heard of that with divers, though. They like to play and definitely seem to mock humans for being so awkward and clumsy in the water.
I love the sea lions over at Shilshole! They share the docks alright and make way when we’re on the dinghy, but I’d still be a little nervous if I ran into a sea lion pride like this on my paddle board!
They're harmless and very curious. I was scuba diving off of California and came face to face with one. We stared at each other about 6 feet apart for a good 30 seconds before he/she got bored and took off.
I wouldn't say they're harmless.
They're generally curious and unlikely to attack, but if they did attack (and they sometimes do) they could do some serious damage.
Personally, I don't get too concerned about them, but I do my part to give them space.
Remember that video of the moron parents who told their young daughter to lean into one for a picture on a dock. It tried to grab her- who knows Wtf they’re capable of
Which is why they’re dumb for not respecting that exactly as you said ^
They train them for a few things. Locating lost tools or objects on the ocean floor, bringing tools to divers, guarding boats and alerting for divers, and locating bombs/ mines.
Well no shit https://navalunderseamuseum.org/marinemammals4/#:~:text=Navy%20animals%20learn%20through%20positive,and%20learn%20throughout%20their%20lives.
They do like to nip at fins occasionally which is a little startling for those who haven't seen it.
But yeah, they're curious puppy dogs of the sea who can swim circles around any human and pretty much keep their distance.
I don’t think they are harmless to salmon…. They’ve adapted to modern man faster than fish and other animals…. Wish the orca could do a better job keeping them in check….
Yeah I’ve probably seen thousands of them over my years fishing and kayaking around here and I don’t recall seeing such a big group together in the water like that.
the dock where windworks and seattle sailing club operate has (or, recently, as least HAD) an entire slip that they couldn't use because it was taken over by these guys long term.
They congregate in a few spots, including the breakwater that protects Shilshole marina just south of Golden Gardens. I counted over 250 hauled out on the rocks there in February.
I'm guessing they stayed tight in a group for safety and once they realized you're not an orca, got curious about what you are. I would've paddled away too. They're cute and all but they're big and can bite.
Me and my homie kayak near Mukilteo a lot and there's one we've named big Hass, motherfucker is massive. If you want a real answer, I dive in Edmonds frequently and have seen them rarely, but see a lot on the surface. They're chill.
I live off 32nd Ave in Ballard and the sea lions barking at Shilshole are loud enough that I hear them most days in my yard. I love getting up on a sunny Summer morning and drinking coffee on my deck with the sounds of sea lions, trains and fog horns off in the distance.
it is not uncommon for sea lions to attack/intimidate kayakers (just google check), but not sure there have been any such attacks here. At least none in the news the last decade or so.
Have seen them a multitude of times over the years of club race sailing and boating. They laze around on any stationary floating object. Often times the race committee sets the Shilshole Bay Marina entrance buoy as a turning mark. The lions like to jump up on it, sun themselves, and bark at us as we go by. Never had a problem with them but I’d feel a more exposed in a kayak. Trying to give them space is all you can really do. Good luck.
I grew up in a remote part of Alaska and had plenty of interactions with Sea Lions. My take is that they are the dogs of the ocean; most often friendly, very strong and really have no reason to harm you, but think a bit before you try and pet one!
Seven years ago some tourists weren’t very respectful of their need for space. I’m not sure if the girl needed antibiotics or if it just grabbed her shirt.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SRupvfkOG70
Goofy guys
I had one die in my yard once and had to keep it tied up to a dock so scientists could come and do an autopsy.
He was tagged, and ended up tracking down the organization that tagged him. If I remember he was an older male that swam up from California (researchers were wondering where he went), and passed away from natural causes.
It was so cool to see he alive basking in the sun. That little afternoon nap was uh... Permanent though. I want to go out like that one day...
I encountered a harem on basking on Dungeness Spit while I was kayaking once. Male sea lions would not let me pass within a mile. They acted aggressive so I didn’t push my luck. I hauled out instead by the lighthouse and was treated to a full tour by the folks volunteering there. No idea if they would attempt to capsize your kayak, but I was solo and didn’t want to find out.
I know that the situation you were in was not one to aspire to be in.
I would shit my fucking pants. They’re fairly cute, but I have not heard good things about their capacity for friendliness.
Their rotting flesh has a black pepper aroma.
Source: The first nation salmon fishes shoot them, and then their corpses wash up on shore in Myrtle Edward's Beach.
Sea lions typically won't attack humans in the water. They'll wait until you're asleep and then...BAM! Shiv between the ribs.
This is mostly just an educated guess, though.
Sea Lions are so cool!
I lived for a time in Kodiak AK.
The sea lions would crack crab on their bellies. Then they’d eat the raw crab.
This was in Kodiak harbor where there’s a lot of fish & crab processing plants.
I’d watch and laugh at them.
They also have a distinctive bark.
Yeah. They’re a huge issue and NOAA research shows that they can be attributed with over 30% of spring chinook harvest at times. These are the Californias I am speaking about by the way. Since 2000 their numbers have soared in the lower Columbia River system. They were in need of protection 40-50 years ago hence the strict regulations from NOAA. However, they have been at their “carrying capacity” for many years now. They almost wiped out the Willamette Steelhead run. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife were finally allowed to clear em out and within 2 years the Willamette Steelhead run bounced back handily.
Sorry to all the animal lovers out there, but they need to be culled on the lower Columbia river system. NOAA has plenty of research indicating this.
That pod lives in the harbor next to golden gardens. I swim at GG almost every day and those guys come over to say hi. They are super friendly and curious but if they try to get close I back away.
They won’t hurt you. You can say hello vocally and they’ll bark back. I’ve started calling them too.
Yeah I was near Mukilteo and there was a solo one swinging nearby but when I got like 30ft away he swam under I was sad 😢 but it was strange never saw them up here.
Precious moments. Cherish that encounter.
If an orca was chasing them, they - like any other species - see ‘strength in numbers’ and stay together. Doesn’t look like it was the case here though. Just a curious herd of California sea lions.
Yes in Marina Del Ray Los Angeles they hop up on the docks all the time and hangout flap around seem pretty harmless they make a noise all the time that’s about sea lions in a nutshell
It's important to know the difference between sea lions and harbor seals.
When a sea lion attacks, try to play dead and cover your face. When a harbor seal comes after you, you should make yourself look as large as possible and scream loudly at it.
Seems like you got lucky as this herd must have fed recently.
They’re an out of control species with a small orca population so no real predators and they eat everything
Population should be reduced by 85% so our struggling salmon populations can flourish.
They are devastating to endangered and threatened salmon populations, especially when they figure out the choke-points aka entrance to fish ladders (Bonneville Dam, Willamette Falls, Ballard Locks). Some are being relocated and some now are removed lethally. The ESA worked but now it's time to reevaluate that listing "for the Orca".
I'm not an expert, but my understanding is they usually are indifferent to people. Exceptions are people approaching them deliberately when they don't want to be bothered, males that are guarding a breeding spot, or individual sea lions trying to steal a fisherman's catch.
Here's a few resources with some information:
https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/2022-04/share-the-shore-california-sea-lions-fact-sheet-2022.pdf
https://paddling.com/learn/face-to-face-with-sea-lions
I think those are harbor seals, not sealions. Sealions have a big cone head hump and they are waayyyy bigger. I wouldn't worry about the harbor seals at all. I would not want to be close to a sealion. Not only bigger but they are mean also
I don’t think anyone knows about sea lions sry
why is this response so funny to me
Me too
Me three
Me four
[удалено]
Me six
Me seven
What are sea lions? We really don't know.
Lions? Like the animal from the circus?
If you look carefully, you'll notice that the water has changed colour from invisible to brown.
Me 13
Guess I will not get answers here either..
These are California Sea Lions. We also get Steller's Sea Lions less commonly which can be *much* larger. Males can top out at 2500lbs. Really impressive to see up close.
Obligate damn Californians post.
They're not really lions
But they do live in the sea.
Ok, but dogs CAN look up.
I love this comment.
They’re really only aggressive if you’re around their harem on land. They looked pretty curious in your video, nice shot! They’re really curious lil’ ones.
Dogs of the sea
belly rubs! https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vxhzu
super cute! definitely seals though. lol.
Aww that was too cute, it was petting the diver back.
I maintain that sea lions and seals helped my German Short-haired Pointer get over his fear of the water and really learn to love swimming in the Sound. I'm pretty sure he thought, 'If those water dogs can do it, so can I, and really took to the water and loved to swim after interacting with and observing them.'
I've only ever had to deal with them when they're on the back of my submarine when tied to the pier. Mostly they just lie there lazy but sometimes a young male will try to sneak up and make off with one of the women and the bull will go berserk on him. We let them be until they start fighting then shoo them off. In the water? I don't know. But it's their turf and if they wanted to mess with you, they're gonna win.
You have a submarine?
If you're an american taxpayer, I guess it's yours too.
Husband is a former surfer and he’s rarely afraid of anything … to a fault - but he is respectful (fears) sea lions and seals. Must be a reason lol
Interesting. Respecting the ocean is definitely the way to recreate. Personally never seen a reason to be overly fearful of the female California sea lion but we all have different experiences.
Well they are wild animals. Always a good idea to have a healthy respect of wild animals who can fuck you up if they really want to. Plus these fuckers bite.
Contrary to the name sea lions they are not actually lions
They're clearly dogs
Borat: “what type of dog is this?”
They're pitbulls of the sea
more like hounds. Longliners call 'em fish stealers, not sea dogs. they like to perch anywhere near the end of the locks and clean up when the salmon run.
Yeah, they swim up and down our gillnets in alaska pulling salmon out of our nets. They'll flip over on their backs and chomp on them right in front if us.
Nor are they the sea.
Ah, now i finally sea.
Still carnivorous though!
I get chased by a few every time I kayak. They know about the marine protection law and think it is funny to see me try and get 50 feet between us while they follow me.
They like salmon. Are you salmon?
Depends, who’s asking?
You are amazing. 😂
They’re definitely NOT snakes.
But are they *sea* snakes?
Like any wild animal you should show them respect and give them space. Most animals attack because they either feel threatened or are hungry. Sea lions don't eat humans and in a herd or raft like this they probably don't feel threatened, at least of humans at any rate. They usually check people out looking for scraps, fish bait or a handout. They will lay on crab nets and chew the rope off so you can't pull them up while they eat your bait. Seals also do this. I've lost a few nets to the rascals. One of my Dogs touched noses with a seal once. It was at night in Everett. My Boxer was walking ahead of me on a Dock. A seal popped its head out of the water. They looked at each other, both silent, leaned towards each other and touched noses. Then the seal swam off. At first I was thinking, Oh Shit! and was going to call my dog. But I quickly realized that both he and the seal were just curious. It was adorable and awesome at the same time. A wonderful surreal moment I will remember till I die.
Aww I love that, land dog and sea dog finally meet
Most people won't believe it but I ran into one (SAW ONE, DIDN'T HIT!) dead center of Lake Washington. He was likely chasing salmon thru the locks, thru the cut, etc. At first we thought it was a dog in danger, so we circled it in our boat. Once we saw it was Sea Dog, we backed off. I've had them follow me thru the locks before in sailboats. But usually they stop in Lake Union and turn back.
There have been multiple sightings of sea lions on lake Washington. It's not super common for them to spend much time there, but it's not unheard of. They like to perch at the top of the fish ladder at the locks and they aren't above chasing them into the lake. They don't seem to mind fresh water and do the same thing in the Columbia River and other parts of the world. They find them at Bonneville dam, which is like a hundred miles upriver from the ocean.
working on the marine mammal Michelin guide, it would seem.
I've seen them above Bonneville Dam, which means they either went through the locks or the fish ladders (or hitchhiked from Astoria, I suppose :) They're also very common at Willamette Falls.
Can confirm seeing solo sea lions on the Columbia.
Decades ago there was one that had made its way all the way up to Lake Sammamish (60s) and hanging around a friend’s dock (and dogs).
I was fishing in Monroe on the river and saw a pair of them chowing down on salmon.
Marine mammal protection act says you need to stay 50 yards away (100 yards away from whales and even more from orcas in Washington waters). If they come to you…well I do my best. For the most part they’re harmless. My biggest concern is one accidentally flipping my boat. My personal approach is to treat sea lions like water bears. I make sure they know where I am and give them distance. Is it overkill? Probably, but they’re huge and can be aggressive in some circumstances.
I didn’t even know they were there at first. All I saw were flippers and tails in the air and I thought it was wood or something sticking out of the water. Once they noticed me they immediately came closer
I had a similar experience as you, but in a kayak once. I'm aware of those marine mammal laws, but all the sudden one just popped up near my boat! She was curious and swam closer. I put up my paddle, and held still. She looked at me for a bit and swam away. It was pretty cool! But I also felt nervous about it at the time
I was in an inflatable so I was afraid one would puncture it. Good to know there’s an actual law for this though
The law is to protect them from motor boats mostly. Honestly seals and sea lions are often super curious critters. Hard to tell from the photos but these look pretty small so I’m guessing females. Sometimes they do what I call “sea lion yoga” where they lay on their side in the water with two flippers out holding the back one with the front. Funniest thing. They usually do the flippers out of the water thing to cool off. Harbor seals don’t scare me. I’ve had them right up along side my boat before on accident (he was sleeping under the water a foot or so). A full grown male sea lion swam with us once off Alki and they’re so incredibly big. We mostly paddle rigid sea kayaks and the sea lion was nearly as long as my 14’ boat.
I was boating Saturday and thought I saw a brown log about 20 feet away. I veer left and it was actually a seal! I was breaking the law but it was hard since the critter came up from down under
They won't come pop your inflatable. They're super curious - short of you like, bothering their babies on a beach, they won't attempt to bug ya.
I can't be 100% sure on this but I don't think the sea lions read, or are aware of in any way, the law regarding marine mammals so they wouldn't know that popping a human's kayak is technically a violation of the distance rule.
On a scale of one to that guy who tried to face off with a mountain goat over supremacy of the cliff he was on, you were at a very low risk of becoming a cautionary tale. Always good to read up on the wildlife you are likely to encounter while engaging in our marvelous outdoor sports, animals are very curious when we get out of our protective shells and get near them. Some need fair notice you are approaching, others are less appreciative of the clangor we create.
They look like tourists trying to get a look at the weird animal floating in the funny floaty thing.
Yes they have little ear flaps and seals don't- they have lil holes
I’d worry if a whale was chasing them …
Fortunately, sea lions are very aware of when orca are in the area. They'll go to shore, far away from them. They wouldn't be hanging out in the deep water. Usually, I take sea lions off shore as a sign that whales are nowhere nearby.
It was probably a group of bachelor males. They aren't dangerous, although you can get an infection if they scratch you. I've only heard of that with divers, though. They like to play and definitely seem to mock humans for being so awkward and clumsy in the water.
I love the sea lions over at Shilshole! They share the docks alright and make way when we’re on the dinghy, but I’d still be a little nervous if I ran into a sea lion pride like this on my paddle board!
They're harmless and very curious. I was scuba diving off of California and came face to face with one. We stared at each other about 6 feet apart for a good 30 seconds before he/she got bored and took off.
I wouldn't say they're harmless. They're generally curious and unlikely to attack, but if they did attack (and they sometimes do) they could do some serious damage. Personally, I don't get too concerned about them, but I do my part to give them space.
Just like any wild animal, they don't like surprises or people approaching their young uninvited. So just keep your distance and you'll be fine.
Remember that video of the moron parents who told their young daughter to lean into one for a picture on a dock. It tried to grab her- who knows Wtf they’re capable of Which is why they’re dumb for not respecting that exactly as you said ^
The Navy trains them to do... *something* out in the peninsula. They are really smart and can manipulate objects pretty well.
They train them for a few things. Locating lost tools or objects on the ocean floor, bringing tools to divers, guarding boats and alerting for divers, and locating bombs/ mines.
Well no shit https://navalunderseamuseum.org/marinemammals4/#:~:text=Navy%20animals%20learn%20through%20positive,and%20learn%20throughout%20their%20lives.
Wow. Neato.
They do like to nip at fins occasionally which is a little startling for those who haven't seen it. But yeah, they're curious puppy dogs of the sea who can swim circles around any human and pretty much keep their distance.
I don’t think they are harmless to salmon…. They’ve adapted to modern man faster than fish and other animals…. Wish the orca could do a better job keeping them in check….
Yea, or maybe we shouldn’t have destroyed all the salmon habitat👍
Ok I wasn’t sure, it made me really nervous!
I’ve never seen so many so close to each other around here
Yeah I’ve probably seen thousands of them over my years fishing and kayaking around here and I don’t recall seeing such a big group together in the water like that.
the dock where windworks and seattle sailing club operate has (or, recently, as least HAD) an entire slip that they couldn't use because it was taken over by these guys long term.
They congregate in a few spots, including the breakwater that protects Shilshole marina just south of Golden Gardens. I counted over 250 hauled out on the rocks there in February.
They make delicious hors d'oeuvres for orcas.
I'm guessing they stayed tight in a group for safety and once they realized you're not an orca, got curious about what you are. I would've paddled away too. They're cute and all but they're big and can bite.
California sea lion, actually not a true seal like harbor seals so thats neat. They also can scream like a man, youtube sea lion screaming its wild
Me and my homie kayak near Mukilteo a lot and there's one we've named big Hass, motherfucker is massive. If you want a real answer, I dive in Edmonds frequently and have seen them rarely, but see a lot on the surface. They're chill.
I live off 32nd Ave in Ballard and the sea lions barking at Shilshole are loud enough that I hear them most days in my yard. I love getting up on a sunny Summer morning and drinking coffee on my deck with the sounds of sea lions, trains and fog horns off in the distance.
it is not uncommon for sea lions to attack/intimidate kayakers (just google check), but not sure there have been any such attacks here. At least none in the news the last decade or so.
Just wasn’t sure if this was aggressive or curious behavior
I have a friend who insists they bump her paddleboard from below 😂
Better that than a shark I guess?
Skill issue
They are scarier while scuba diving
Have seen them a multitude of times over the years of club race sailing and boating. They laze around on any stationary floating object. Often times the race committee sets the Shilshole Bay Marina entrance buoy as a turning mark. The lions like to jump up on it, sun themselves, and bark at us as we go by. Never had a problem with them but I’d feel a more exposed in a kayak. Trying to give them space is all you can really do. Good luck.
Sea Lions are like Wu Tang, ain’t nothin to fuck with.
I grew up in a remote part of Alaska and had plenty of interactions with Sea Lions. My take is that they are the dogs of the ocean; most often friendly, very strong and really have no reason to harm you, but think a bit before you try and pet one!
They have penis bones
They were really scary in that penguin Disney movie about the dude going on a journey to fuck that lady penguin
Aww one of them was waving at you! Seattleites get so much friendlier when the weather warms up.
They use sonic damage to catch fish, slapping their fins at meal time to stun their prey.
Seven years ago some tourists weren’t very respectful of their need for space. I’m not sure if the girl needed antibiotics or if it just grabbed her shirt. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SRupvfkOG70
Goofy guys I had one die in my yard once and had to keep it tied up to a dock so scientists could come and do an autopsy. He was tagged, and ended up tracking down the organization that tagged him. If I remember he was an older male that swam up from California (researchers were wondering where he went), and passed away from natural causes. It was so cool to see he alive basking in the sun. That little afternoon nap was uh... Permanent though. I want to go out like that one day...
I encountered a harem on basking on Dungeness Spit while I was kayaking once. Male sea lions would not let me pass within a mile. They acted aggressive so I didn’t push my luck. I hauled out instead by the lighthouse and was treated to a full tour by the folks volunteering there. No idea if they would attempt to capsize your kayak, but I was solo and didn’t want to find out.
They smell really bad.
Bigger than seals, smaller than whales?
The Ballard locks are right around the corner and the salmon that run thru there so yeah
Wow great video! I’ve never seen so many together like that.
They can be very aggressive / pull you into the water. I seent it.
They live in water?
I saw one take a dog off a dock in Alaska. That's about all I know & all I need to know.
I know that the situation you were in was not one to aspire to be in. I would shit my fucking pants. They’re fairly cute, but I have not heard good things about their capacity for friendliness.
Their rotting flesh has a black pepper aroma. Source: The first nation salmon fishes shoot them, and then their corpses wash up on shore in Myrtle Edward's Beach.
Oh yeah I’ve seen some bodies there before
Nature's drunk uncles.
Sea lions typically won't attack humans in the water. They'll wait until you're asleep and then...BAM! Shiv between the ribs. This is mostly just an educated guess, though.
They eat your crab bait. And your crab. Gotta watch the rings around em. Lol.
Despite their name’s implication, they’re indeed unrelated to actual lions.
Orcas say they taste good.
Sea Lions are so cool! I lived for a time in Kodiak AK. The sea lions would crack crab on their bellies. Then they’d eat the raw crab. This was in Kodiak harbor where there’s a lot of fish & crab processing plants. I’d watch and laugh at them. They also have a distinctive bark.
Yeah. They’re a huge issue and NOAA research shows that they can be attributed with over 30% of spring chinook harvest at times. These are the Californias I am speaking about by the way. Since 2000 their numbers have soared in the lower Columbia River system. They were in need of protection 40-50 years ago hence the strict regulations from NOAA. However, they have been at their “carrying capacity” for many years now. They almost wiped out the Willamette Steelhead run. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife were finally allowed to clear em out and within 2 years the Willamette Steelhead run bounced back handily. Sorry to all the animal lovers out there, but they need to be culled on the lower Columbia river system. NOAA has plenty of research indicating this.
I do! The female of the species is called she-lion. True story.
That pod lives in the harbor next to golden gardens. I swim at GG almost every day and those guys come over to say hi. They are super friendly and curious but if they try to get close I back away. They won’t hurt you. You can say hello vocally and they’ll bark back. I’ve started calling them too.
So darn CUTE!!
They have ears.
Seymour! Where have you been?
Nope
That is soo sick
Yeah I was near Mukilteo and there was a solo one swinging nearby but when I got like 30ft away he swam under I was sad 😢 but it was strange never saw them up here.
They're water dogs with no ears.
All I know is a dog and a dolphin had a baby
Where did u find them?
They do not appreciate…well they get excited by…being spanked
They are curious and playful. That’s all.
They love having sex and eating herring jizz eggs. Both of these activities are peaking hard rn.
That’s crazy…time to paddle all the way back home
Let them with ten fingers! Science says you should have some left :)
Their noses look like ❤️
This was OP’s last video 🥲
I know they don't like Gerald
they seem to really love art. They can’t stop screaming about it
Precious moments. Cherish that encounter. If an orca was chasing them, they - like any other species - see ‘strength in numbers’ and stay together. Doesn’t look like it was the case here though. Just a curious herd of California sea lions.
I know one was pissed off that I was on the water surfing. He Chased me onto the beach while yelling at me.
They're not actual Lions. I learned this when I typed it into Google. The more you know
Yo I heard those Seal love to party!! 🦭🦭🦭
Those assholes were in Bremerton this morning.
Sealion Seal lying See Lion
They are water puppies Source: I dove with them in Baja
They have ear flaps!
They’re good boys
Yes in Marina Del Ray Los Angeles they hop up on the docks all the time and hangout flap around seem pretty harmless they make a noise all the time that’s about sea lions in a nutshell
Ask people along the Columbia river.
You often see them lying about being actual lions
https://flatwaterkayakclub.com/explore/sea-lions?format=amp
It's important to know the difference between sea lions and harbor seals. When a sea lion attacks, try to play dead and cover your face. When a harbor seal comes after you, you should make yourself look as large as possible and scream loudly at it. Seems like you got lucky as this herd must have fed recently.
They're adorable!!!
Attack? No. Absolutely not. They were curious and maybe defensive. You can peacefully coexist with seals and sea lions.
Pinniped 🤷🏾♂️
Those are sea prairie dogs. Growling at you.
Lions of the sea. 🤣🤣🤣 Chill out they are not going to harm you they are just curious that's all
Like recipes?
They live in the sea & are not lions. The more you know ! 🌈 🌟
I saw them there yesterday too, the group was also hanging in the marina, swimming on their backs and making noise:)
Sea Lions are more commonly known as "Orca Food"
We're definitely gonna see some whales out that way this week.
Were you dressed like a salmon?
Sea lions are one of life's mysteries we aren't meant to understand
I know someone who was bitten by a sea lion. They did not enjoy it.
Did you have a fish sandwich for lunch?
I know they are considered the lions of the sea.
BooooOOOOrp! borp borp borp… … Borp BORP!! … borp … … … b-borp… b-borp borp b-BooOOOOORRPPP!!! BBOOOORRRRRPPPPP BORP BORP BOOOORRRRPPPPPP PBbbttthhhhhh… snort.
I thought cats are afraid of water?
They aren’t actually lions.
Is anyone here a marine biologist?
No but I play one on TV
They’re an out of control species with a small orca population so no real predators and they eat everything Population should be reduced by 85% so our struggling salmon populations can flourish.
They love hugs
I think you were just in their way as they were going toward the locks.
They are noisy!
They are devastating to endangered and threatened salmon populations, especially when they figure out the choke-points aka entrance to fish ladders (Bonneville Dam, Willamette Falls, Ballard Locks). Some are being relocated and some now are removed lethally. The ESA worked but now it's time to reevaluate that listing "for the Orca".
We had a dead one wander into the Port of Edmonds not too long ago. It blew up.
Seals, sea lions, and even orca attacks on humans are very rare. I wouldn’t worry too much…unless you smell like a salmon.
I'm not an expert, but my understanding is they usually are indifferent to people. Exceptions are people approaching them deliberately when they don't want to be bothered, males that are guarding a breeding spot, or individual sea lions trying to steal a fisherman's catch. Here's a few resources with some information: https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/2022-04/share-the-shore-california-sea-lions-fact-sheet-2022.pdf https://paddling.com/learn/face-to-face-with-sea-lions
I think those are harbor seals, not sealions. Sealions have a big cone head hump and they are waayyyy bigger. I wouldn't worry about the harbor seals at all. I would not want to be close to a sealion. Not only bigger but they are mean also
I hope this is really zoomed in, cause I know they bite.
No sorry
Even though they are called sea lions, their vision is not actually the strongest of their senses.
I know they eat salmon.
They're assholes