NPR: A Seafood Bounty Lures Sea Lions to S.F.'s PIER 39 in Numbers Not Seen in 15 Years
- Behavior
- Natural history
Published by NPR: May 4, 2024
The echoes of barking and blubber-slapping have grown louder in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.
An unusually large herd of sea lions hauled out of the bay waters to hang out on the docks at Pier 39, a popular tourist destination. It's the most sea lions the area has seen in 15 years, according to pier officials.
Over 1,000 sea lions were counted this week, Pier 39 harbormaster Sheila Chandor told multiple media outlets.
A bounty of anchovies and herring in the bay waters has drawn the pinnipeds to feast ahead of mating season, which starts next month, Chandor told SF Gate.
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Guadalupe fur seals\/2024\/cropped-images\/gfs-sloopy-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-190-0-1270-992-1737658160.jpg","alt":"Sloopy \u2013 Guadalupe fur seal","title":"Rescue Stories: Vote for Your Favorite Marine Mammal Patient of 2024!","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/rescue-stories-vote-for-your-favorite-marine-mammal-patient-of-2024","label":"News Update","date":"2025-01-23 01:00:00"}
Rescue Stories: Vote for Your Favorite Marine Mammal Patient of 2024!
January 23, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2013\/cropped-images\/hs-bogey-photo-by-Ingrid-Overgard-c-the-marine-mammal-center-382-0-2914-2276-1605061447.jpg","alt":"harbor seal Bogey","title":"Top Eco Friendly Valentine\u2019s Day Gifts","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/top-eco-friendly-valentines-day-gifts","label":"News Update","date":"2025-01-08 01:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor seal\/cropped-images\/01-hslucinda2934releasephoto-by-john-beltran-c-the-marine-mammal-center-16-0-0-1270-992-1734387848.jpg","alt":"A Pacific harbor seal moves into the ocean.","title":"From Rescue to Release: Marine Mammal Patients Seen Thriving in the Wild","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/from-rescue-to-release-marine-mammal-patients-seen-thriving-in-the-wild","label":"Patient Update","date":"2024-12-17 12:06:08"}
From Rescue to Release: Marine Mammal Patients Seen Thriving in the Wild
December 17, 2024
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Elephant seal\/1-es-liddie-disentangledphoto-by-heather-harris-c-the-marine-mammal-centernoaa-permit-24359.jpg","alt":"A sedated northern elephant seal on the beach with a wound on its neck.","title":"Life-Saving Disentanglement Frees Northern Elephant Seal Liddie from Ocean Trash","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/life-saving-disentanglement-frees-northern-elephant-seal-liddie-from-ocean-trash","label":"Patient Update","date":"2024-12-06 13:43:00"}
Life-Saving Disentanglement Frees Northern Elephant Seal Liddie from Ocean Trash
December 6, 2024
Read Morenatural history
Adam Ratner
California Sea Lion