Sea Lions | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/sea-lions/RSS feed for Sea LionsenThu, 07 May 2026 16:19:46 +0000Chonkers the Massive Sea Lion Drew Crowds to San Francisco's Famed Pier 39. Then, a New Chunky Showstopper Stole His Identityhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chonkers-the-massive-sea-lion-drew-crowds-to-san-franciscos-famed-pier-39-then-a-new-chunky-showstopper-stole-his-identity-180988691/The Steller sea lion was an unusual visitor to the pier, which typically hosts smaller California sea lions. However, he may have moved on days ago, during which time a humongous member of the area's more common species tricked onlookersThu, 07 May 2026 16:19:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chonkers-the-massive-sea-lion-drew-crowds-to-san-franciscos-famed-pier-39-then-a-new-chunky-showstopper-stole-his-identity-180988691/Salmon in the Pacific Northwest Are Facing a New Threat: Booming Populations of Seals and Sea Lionshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/salmon-pacific-northwest-facing-new-threat-booming-populations-seals-sea-lions-180986579/The mammals' return to the region represented a conservation success story, but their appetite for endangered fish is upsetting the balance of a delicate ecosystemMon, 19 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/salmon-pacific-northwest-facing-new-threat-booming-populations-seals-sea-lions-180986579/This Sea Lion Can Headbang Better Than You—Watch Her Out-Perform Humans at Keeping a Beathttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-sea-lion-can-headbang-better-than-you-watch-her-out-perform-humans-at-keeping-a-beat-180986549/A new study of Ronan, a sea lion famous for her dancing skills, challenges the idea that only vocal learners can match a tempoFri, 02 May 2025 20:53:16 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-sea-lion-can-headbang-better-than-you-watch-her-out-perform-humans-at-keeping-a-beat-180986549/Sea Lion Bites Surfer Amid One of the Worst Outbreaks of Domoic Acid Poisoning That California Wildlife Rescuers Can Rememberhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sea-lion-bites-surfer-amid-one-of-the-worst-outbreaks-of-domoic-acid-poisoning-that-california-wildlife-rescuers-can-remember-180986325/Sea lions, dolphins and birds are sick and dying because of a toxic algae bloom in Southern California—and animal care organizations are overwhelmed by the scaleThu, 27 Mar 2025 19:31:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sea-lion-bites-surfer-amid-one-of-the-worst-outbreaks-of-domoic-acid-poisoning-that-california-wildlife-rescuers-can-remember-180986325/See 15 Stunning Photos of California That Showcase the Golden State's Majestic Beautyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/tour-the-great-golden-state-of-california-with-these-15-photos-180985467/California offers lovely beaches, forests, deserts, mountains and more!Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/tour-the-great-golden-state-of-california-with-these-15-photos-180985467/See Hundreds of Sea Lions Take Over a Popular California Beachhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-hundreds-of-sea-lions-take-over-a-popular-california-beach-180984986/The pinnipeds are resting on San Carlos Beach as part of their annual northward journey from the Channel Islands, prompting officials to close it downWed, 28 Aug 2024 17:49:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-hundreds-of-sea-lions-take-over-a-popular-california-beach-180984986/Scientists Enlist the Help of Sea Lions to Reveal a Unique View of the Ocean Floorhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-enlist-the-help-of-sea-lions-to-reveal-a-unique-view-of-the-ocean-floor-180984853/Australian researchers glued satellite-linked GPS cameras to the animals' backs to capture footage that could be vital to marine conservation effortsWed, 07 Aug 2024 20:36:08 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-enlist-the-help-of-sea-lions-to-reveal-a-unique-view-of-the-ocean-floor-180984853/More Than 1,000 Sea Lions Gather at San Francisco's Pier 39, the Largest Group in 15 Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-than-1000-sea-lions-gather-at-san-franciscos-pier-39-the-largest-group-in-15-years-180984305/The pinnipeds came to the area to feed on anchovies and herring as they prepare for breeding seasonMon, 06 May 2024 16:54:26 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-than-1000-sea-lions-gather-at-san-franciscos-pier-39-the-largest-group-in-15-years-180984305/Why Did Seals and Sea Lions Never Commit to a Life Fully at Sea?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-did-seals-and-sea-lions-never-commit-to-a-life-fully-at-sea-180983926/While whales moved from living on land to an existence immersed in water, pinnipeds embraced an amphibious lifestyleWed, 20 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-did-seals-and-sea-lions-never-commit-to-a-life-fully-at-sea-180983926/San Diego Closes Popular Beach for Seven Years to Protect Sea Lionshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/san-diego-closes-popular-beach-for-seven-years-to-protect-sea-lions-180982943/Visitors have been getting too close to the marine mammals—taking selfies and even harassing them—as they rear their pupsThu, 21 Sep 2023 20:44:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/san-diego-closes-popular-beach-for-seven-years-to-protect-sea-lions-180982943/