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
California sea lions lounge on docks at Pier 39 on May 05, 2024 in San Francisco, California. Over 1,000 California sea lions are hanging out on the docks at popular San Francisco tourist destination Pier 39. The surge in number of sea lions in the area is due to large schools of anchovies and herring in the bay waters that will allow them to fuel up before mating season next month. The sea lions have been a top attraction at Pier 39 for nearly 35 years. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Sea lions lounge on the docks at Pier 39
California sea lions lounge on docks at Pier 39 on May 05, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The surge in number of sea lions in the area is due to large schools of anchovies and herring
In an aerial view, California sea lions lounge on docks at Pier 39 on May 05, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Over 1,000 sea lions hang out on the docks
California sea lions lounge on docks at Pier 39 on May 05, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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