Sea lions took over a beach in Monterey, California, this week, leading city officials to close the beach to humans to give the marine mammals space.
Monterey officials first posted about the influx of the sea lions on San Carlos Beach on Monday and maintained the closing in another social media post Wednesday, asking residents and others to stay at least 50 yards away from the sea lions. The beach will remain closed until the sea lions leave, officials indicated in another post Friday.
Experts think the rich food supply in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary drew the sea lions north from habitats in the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California.
“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,” Lisa Uttal, a marine biologist for the sanctuary, told Reuters.
Almost all of the sea lions are male. Ms. Uttal said they should be expected to stay at San Carlos, a popular diving location, for three to four weeks.
In addition to the sea lions, some sea otter mothers and their pups have been spotted in the area, the marine sanctuary posted on Facebook this month.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.