Home Nature Tours Wildlife of British Columbia Steller Sea Lions
Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
Steller sea lions are the largest member of the seal family and are distinguished by their long flippers and yellowish colour. Starting off life as pups weighing around 40 lbs, they put on mass quickly and weigh an average 600 lbs for females and 1,200 lbs for males.
Males will have harems of three to 20 females and are very aggressive and territorial. They fight for mates by throw their huge bodies against each other and biting.
Sea lions are listed as endangered due to the perils of commercial fishing and a reduction in their natural food sources. Their population dropped from 175,000 in the 1960s to around 35,000 today.
Sea lions can be seen lounging on rocks – or stealing an angler’s fishing! – on our Vancouver Island nature tours.
