The Steller Sea Lion looks similar to its California cousin but is actually 3 times larger! These grizzly bears of the sea prefer isolated rock islands and are common further up the Pacific Coast. Find out why in this small Alaska town the Steller Sea Lion has found paradise!
0:00 Intro 0:31 The Species 1:50 Largest Sea Cave in America 2:30 Sea Lion Heaven
We believe that in order to motivate people to save the ocean and its ecosystem one has to learn about it, see the beauty, and understand the issues at risk. Even better is experiencing the magic of interacting with animals through respectful and sustainable operators. Each of our curated ecotourism partners has been essential in the creation of our productions providing local knowledge and access to the incredible animals featured in our episodes.
Music
Along the rocky coast of western United States, the barks of the California sea lion ring out.
But as we venture further north into colder waters, packed on isolated rock islands, there is another sound.
The unmistakable roar of a stellar sea lion.
While similar in appearance, these species are three times larger than California sea lions, with the males weighing up to 2,500 pounds.
The lion in their name refers to the sound they make, as well as the thick mane of fur around their neck.
The population is separated into a western stock and an eastern stock, divided at about the Alaskan state line.
Their numbers have declined more than 50% since 1960, for unconfirmed reasons.
Stellars and Californians sometimes haul out together, including here, in the largest sea cave of America.
Discovered in 1880 in Florence, Oregon, the sea lions occupy the cave mostly in the winter months.
In the summer, they sunbathe on the outside ledges or raft up together nearby.
This is also when they return to the rookeries, where females may pup only once a year.
But it's in a small town in Alaska where the stellar sea lions have truly reached the promised land.
Surrounded by numerous beautiful glaciers and steep mountainsides lies Valdez.
And the gates of heaven are here, at the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery.
Every year, millions of pink salmon return to the hatchery where they were born, crowding the fish ladder.
And this means easy pickings for the sea lions.
The water is a writhing, living mass of fish.
It is a veritable buffet.
An alpha male's status and ability to protect a harem is based on his size.
And so they come here to gorge themselves on this bountiful source of protein.
Stuffed and satiated, they bask in the sun to digest.
It's not common to see only large males gathered like this.
But with the abundance of food and no females around, there's no need to fight.
They will stay until the salmon run ends, eventually leaving this paradise to face the challenges of real life.
If you enjoyed this video, here are a couple more you might also like.
Also do as these dolphins do and follow us and subscribe for more amazing marine life content.
