By Dylan Bouscher
MONTEREY, California (Reuters) – Tons of of California sea lions have taken over San Carlos Seashore in Monterey, California, prompting native officers to shut the world to folks.
Warning tape has been put up however crowds are nonetheless drawn to the animal spectacle, taking images of the ocean lions as they relaxation and play on the sand and within the water.
Whereas sea lions, or eared seals, are sometimes seen at sure seashores up and down the California coast, native residents say they’ve by no means seen so lots of the marine mammals gathered in Monterey.
Lisa Uttal, a marine biologist with the Monterey Bay Nationwide Marine Sanctuary, stated it was unclear precisely why the ocean lions selected San Carlos Seashore, however they could be drawn to the wealthy range within the ecosystem’s meals provide. Just about all these gathered on the seashore had been male, she stated.
“They migrate up here down from Ventura and the Channel Islands … They are incredibly mobile. They’re usually chasing the food and because Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is so productive out here, the productivity is really rich,” Uttal stated.
They had been anticipated to stay on San Carlos Seashore for 3 to 4 weeks, Uttal stated.
Marge Brigadier, a volunteer with Monterey Bay Nationwide Marine Sanctuary’s Bay Web program, stated the ocean lions had been protected by the U.S. Marine Mammal Safety Act of 1972, which prohibits folks from altering the habits of the ocean lions, which means that approaching too shut or forcing them to flee is a violation.
“People just need to think about how they would feel if they were resting on their bed taking a nap and something big kept coming and chasing them out of the house,” Brigadier stated.
