San Francisco Sees Unusually Large Number Of Sea Lions At Pier 39

Tourists and locals know San Francisco’s Pier 39 as THE place to catch a glimpse of sea lions sunbathing on the docks. Earlier this month visitors got quite the show as unexpectedly large groups of sea lions hauled themselves onto the floating platforms. According to local officials, the sight and sound of the over 1,000 member group was the biggest showing of sea lions in the last 15 years. So what is drawing such large groups of the blubbering animals? It’s the large numbers of anchovies and herring present in the San Francisco bay ahead of the sea lion mating season.

Visitors gather to see the the surge in sea lions in San Francisco

Sea lions lounge on the docks at Pier 39

The surge in number of sea lions in the area is due to large schools of anchovies and herring

Over 1,000 sea lions hang out on the docks

California sea lions playing on the dock

Sea lions rest on the docks after eating their fill of fish from the bay

California sea lions draw visitors to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf

Sea lions nap on San Francisco docks

Docks packed with California sea lions

Full and sleepy seals find space on the crowded docks

The most sea lions to visit Pier 39 in 15 years

San Francisco’s sea lion center draws tourists ahead of mating season

The surge in sea lions is due to large schools of anchovies and herring in the bay