Species · GBIF taxon 2433462
Steller Sea Lion
Eumetopias jubatusAlso known as Steller's Sea Lion, Northern Sea Lion
Steller sea lions are massive marine predators, with adult males growing up to eleven feet long and sporting a thick, lion-like mane of coarse hair around their muscular necks. They gather in noisy, crowded rookeries along rocky shorelines, where dominant bulls defend territories with deep, booming roars that carry over the crashing surf. These agile swimmers hunt cooperatively in cold subarctic waters, diving hundreds of feet deep to pursue schooling fish and squid.
Marine MammalPinnipedVocal
Licensed referenceWikimedia Commons / Public domain · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Salmon
- Herring
- Octopus
Predators
- Killer Whale
- Great White Shark
ThreatsCommercial fishing conflicts, climate change, pollution, and killer whale predation
HabitatsCoastal marine waters, rocky shorelines, and offshore islands
Life span20 to 30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyOtariidae
- SpeciesEumetopias jubatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Massive size and territorial behavior make close approaches dangerous; maintain a distance of at least 100 yards.
- Why it is dangerous
- Adults are exceptionally large and powerful, capable of charging quickly on land and delivering a severe, infectious bite.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for massive tan to light brown bodies, blunt snouts, and thick, swollen necks on mature males.
- What to do
- Never block their path to the water, and immediately back away if they sit up, vocalize, or stare directly at you.
- What to notice
- Recognized by their enormous size, pale coloration, and active presence on remote rocky islands and jetties.
- Support conservation
- Respect seasonal closures around critical rookeries and report any entangled or injured individuals to local marine mammal authorities.
Responsible observation
- Keep Your Distance: Stay at least 100 yards away on land or water to avoid disrupting their natural behaviors.
- Listen for Vocalizations: Listen for the deep, guttural roars of territorial males, which signal you are too close.
- Use Binoculars: Observe rookeries and haul-outs using binoculars or a spotting scope to prevent stampedes.
Co-occurring Pinniped Carina Gsottbauer / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Martín Acosta Albarracín, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Martín Acosta Albarracín · cc-by
Co-occurring Pinniped Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Liam Steele, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Liam Steele · cc-by
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