Over 1,000 Sea Lions Are At Pier 39 Right Now
Thanks to SF Gate for sharing the news that Pier 39 is seeing an influx of sea lions on its docks. On Monday, May 29, Pier 39 counted over 1,000 sea lions, which is the highest recorded number in 15 years.
The number of seal lions ebbs and flows each season; Pier 39 reached its record high of 1,701 sea lions in November 2009.
Thanks to ample food in the Bay for the sea lions, like anchovies and herring, Pier 39 seems to be the perfect spot for them to call home temporarily on their journey south to mate.
> View Pier 39’s Live Seal Lion Cam
THE SEA LION STORY & LIVE WEBCAM
A few California sea lions began “hauling out” on PIER 39’s K-Dock shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake hit San Francisco in October 1989. By January 1990, the boisterous barking pinnipeds started to arrive in droves and completely took over K-Dock, much to the exasperation of PIER 39’s Marina tenants.
The Marina Staff turned to The Marine Mammal Center, an organization devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals, for advice about their new slippery tenants. After much debate and research, the experts from The Marine Mammal Center recommended that the sea lions stay in their newfound home.
With a plentiful supply of food from the Bay and an environment protected from predators, the PIER 39 Marina proved to be an ideal living situation for the sea lions. Within a few short months, the number of sea lions grew to more than 300 and hit an all-time record of 1,701 in November 2009.
While the number of sea lions at K-Dock rise and fall with the seasons, available food supply and natural migration patterns, the world famous sea lions always have a home at PIER 39.
View this post on Instagram
