The ODT headline says "Drivers urged to look out for sea lions on coastal roads". This is good advice because mummy sea lions with their babies are active on land at this time of year, keeping away from randy males.

The story is about sea lions, but the sign in the photo clearly says "Seals". Given the healthy number of local sea lion births this year, the ODT surely missed the opportunity to use a "New seal" sign. ;-)

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/drivers-urged-look-out-sea-lions-coastal-roads

Mature male Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) on the coast of Vancouver Island. Adult males are 2.7 to 3.1 m and weigh 400 to 800 kg. I am amazed how they are able to crawl on rocky cliffs given their huge weight.

More info about Steller sea lions: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessments-status-reports/steller-sea-lion-2013.html

If we strive to be happy by filling all the silences of life with sound, productive by turning all life's leisure into work, and real by turning all our being into doing, we will only succeed in producing a hell on earth.
-- Thomas Merton (No Man is an Island)

#Wisdom #Quotes #ThomasMerton #Happiness #Productivity

#Photography #Panorama #Sealions #Beach #Galapagos

They're actually fur sea-lions—members of the Otariidae family, not true seals (Phocidae). Learn the key differences in this fun piece by Pierre Constant. Dive in

divernet.com/world-dives/fur-seals-theres-no-such-thing

Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak whispers the o'erfraught heart and bids it break.
-- William Shakespeare (Macbeth)

#Wisdom #Quotes #WilliamShakespeare #Death #Grief

#Photography #Panorama #Sealions #Beach #Galapagos

Seallapalooza!

Another image taken with my new Sony 400-800mm G Lens. This being what appeared to be a pretty fun Seal Party going on on Bird Island off of 17th Mile Drive, CA.

Admittedly I was a bit nervous when I pre-ordered this monster as it is the largest lens investment I have personally ever made. But even with the rather brief local wildlife shoot today, and with most settings on auto, I am delighted to have this in my kit now.

#Crisis On The Coast: #DomoicAcid Poisoning Strands 140 #SeaLions & 50 #Dolphins On #California Beaches
The recent influx of #marine #wildlife affected by domoic acid poisoning off the coast of Southern California underscores a critical #environmental crisis, w/≧140 sea lions suffering from this debilitating poison & reports of at least 50 stranded dolphins along local beaches.
#ClimateCrisis #climate #MarineLife #ocean #wildfires #ecosystems #algae #OceanWarming #science
https://worldanimalnews.com/crisis-on-the-coast-domoic-acid-poisoning-strands-140-sea-lions-and-50-dolphins-on-california-beaches/

A sick sea lion is rescued to be evaluated by volunteers from the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute. Over 100 marine mammals and birds have been affected by domoic acid poisoning from algal blooms in southern California since February, Santa Barbara, #US

Photograph: David Swanson/AFP/Getty Images

@photography
#AnimalRescue
#SeaLions

[Raum-Suryan et al.] The First Satellite Flipper Tag Deployments on Steller Sea Lions Allow Tracking Beyond the Annual Molt https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.70010?af=R #SeaLions #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Pinnipeds

Surge in poisoned sea lions threatens beachgoers, burdens rescuers in Southern California https://phys.org/news/2025-03-surge-poisoned-sea-lions-threatens.html #SeaLions #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Pinnipeds #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateAction #ClimateEmergency #OceanPollution #MarinePollution

I think that it's an honorable thing to change your mind occasionally. I don't think it's a sign of weakness or lack of integrity. I believe men are united by their doubts and separated by their convictions. Therefore, it's a very good thing to have doubts. Doubts are the greatest spur to activity that I know of.
-- Peter Ustinov

#Wisdom #Quotes #PeterUstinov #Doubt

#Photography #Panorama #Sealions #Beach #Galapagos

Sea lions basking at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, a popular tourist attraction showcasing lively marine wildlife.

#BuyIntoArt #SanFrancisco #FishermansWharf #California #Animals #SeaLions

https://john-twynam.pixels.com/featured/sea-lions-at-fishermans-wharf-john-twynam.html

[Martin et al.] Report of Two Rare Cases of Allonursing and Fostering in the Cape Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) in Namibia https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.70014?af=R #SeaLions #Seals #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Pinnipeds

Tooth size in South American sea lions reflects historical shifts in population abundance https://phys.org/news/2025-03-tooth-size-south-american-sea.html #SeaLions #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Pinnipeds

Bald eagles and sea lions fighting over herring that have just spawn as you can see from the colour of the sea.

Photo taken during my photo tours in the last few days on the east coast of Vancouver Island.

The herring spawn is still going strong and I have some availability this week for tours: https://www.catherinebabault.com/workshops

Unprecedented number of #sick, #stranded #sealions being found on #LA #beaches https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unprecedented-number-sick-sea-lions-found-la-beaches-rcna195475

An unusually high number of disoriented marine mammals, sickened by a toxic algae bloom, is being found along Southern California’s coast, prompting concerns 2025 could be the deadliest year yet.