Life List:
Wild Alaska by boat
Steller sea lions barking at each other doesn't seem to bother the rest of the
colony.
Steller Sea Lions
We are motoring toward Sail Island, where we’ve heard there is a large Steller sea lion haulout. As we round the corner, our jaws drop. “Large” is an understatement. There must be hundreds and hundreds of them, basking in the sun, frolicking in the water and play fighting.
The bull male reminds us of Jabba the Hutt—but more majestic and certainly not as ugly—and the younger ones huddle around him like he’s holding court. It’s amazing how hefty these animals are: Males can grow to be 11 feet long and weigh up to 2,400 pounds; females are smaller, reaching between 7.5 and 9.5 feet and weighing 770 pounds.
When heard from a distance, it almost sounds like you’re near
a racecar track.
We cut the motor and spend close to an hour snapping photo after photo, and simply marveling at the chance to watch these powerful creatures in their natural habitat. They completely ignore us and just do their thing. Pure entertainment! The way they drape themselves across the rocky point makes us think of a sea lion hotel full of bunk beds. Few of their rocky berths look comfortable to us, but they seem to be in Seventh Heaven.
Did I mention the racket? No wonder they call these sea lions. In addition to the male’s prominent mane, they do sound like they’re roaring, and it’s a constant din of communication. When heard from a distance, it almost sounds like you’re near a racecar track.
It’s important to know whether the colony you are watching is in a rookery or a haulout. A rookery is a breeding ground and thereby protected by a three-nautical-mile no-entry zone. A haulout is where they live and congregate when hunting and after the breeding season, in which case you can get closer but should still remain at least 100 yards away so as not to disturb them.
Observing sea lions living in large colonies like this creates the impression that a huge population exists. However, it’s a sobering fact that all Steller sea lions are listed under the Endangered Species Act and where they live dictates whether they are “endangered” or “threatened.” The sea lions in Southeast Alaska are considered “threatened.”
First Day | Fiords, Glaciers and Icebergs | Secluded Coves
Steller Sea Lions | Bears, Bears and More Bears
Fishing Villages and Hot Springs | Harbor Seals
Rainforests, High-Alpine Lakes and Beaches
A Whale of a Tale | Epilogue | Your Turn: Charter a Yacht
Alaska Photo Galleries