Record number of sea lions have crashed on San Francisco's Pier 39, the most counted in 15 years
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Published 2024-05-03
San Francisco's famed Fisherman's Wharf district is seeing a surge in sea lions.
First appearing at Pier 39 after the 1989 earthquake, the sea lions have become a well known tourist attraction.
The number of sea lions crashing at the pier fluctuates over the seasons. On most days more than a hundred can be seen.
But this week, Pier 39 has counted more than one thousand sea lions, the most they've seen there in 15 years.
The barges the sea lions lounge on are designed to hold significant weight. But officials admit this current surge is testing their limits.
Biologists believe an unusually high number of anchovies in the Bay have attracted extra sea lions this Spring.
The spike in sea lions is only expected to be temporary as they're just making a pit stop in San Francisco, refueling for food, as they travel to Southern California's channel islands for mating season.
Shops and businesses around the area are hoping the sea lion surge will also result in a tourist shopping spree, attracting more visitors to the area.
All Comments (21)
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Its actually kinda crazy when you think about the fact they go to the same exact docks year after year.
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"It's all about the seafood" said also the orcas waiting offshore.
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Dont forget that the huge Great Whites follow the seal migration.
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Next year,they will bring tents.
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I love them !!! I used to go to Pier 39 and have lunch in the restaurant overlooking the docks where all of them hang out .❤❤❤❤❤❤
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In SF, the bay is healthy, while the city is sick.
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It's a sanctuary city.
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In march 1995, i have pictures of a massive amount of sea lions when i was on vacation. I loved them.
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When I was a little girl in the 80s my father was a chef at Alioto’s just by these docks. They used to give me fish heads to feed the few seal lions that would come and go. After my family and I moved away, I saw on the news that they had started to crowd the area. I felt so guilty! Lol 😅
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I thought she was going to say something about climate. They are here for the food.
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How beautiful and amazing gift from nature!
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They used to use the boat docks, and man the boat owners were not happy about that. Good to see they built floats just for the sea lions. Been a long time since I lived in he Bay Area.
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It still smells better than the rest of the city.
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That's about double the number of them I saw right there many years ago.
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The salmon and steelhead hatchery programs have been great for them...
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This report has my seal of approval.
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I have been there and seen them. What you don't get is the, smell. Oh my.
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So loud. My kids and I have really loved them for many years
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Thank you for your report .