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Steller's Sea Lion

While enjoying a warm sunny day and a casual stroll through one of Southeast Alaska's many boat harbors, its not uncommon to see a Steller's sea lion rolling lazily through the water or even sunning itself on the dock. This pinniped, or flippered mammal, has a tawny yellowish brown body and can weigh over a ton.

The Steller's sea lion ranges from the Channel Islands off the southern California coast north to the Bering Sea. Steller's sea lions spend their winter months in shallow water free of fast ice near the coast, and may be observed on gravel beaches or ice flows that are not too far out to sea. This mammal is most frequently found on remote rocky coasts well away from civilization. Others prefer to live in harbors, swimming between the boats or sunning on a dock.

Like other pinnipeds, the sea lion has large flippers with small nails. Females are slim, while the male has massive shoulders and a thick, muscular neck with a substantial mane of long, coarse hair. Its head is bear-like, with a straight muzzle and small, pointed ears. Adult females grow as long as seven feet and can weigh up to 800 pounds. Adult males reach lengths of thirteen feet and can weigh up to 2,400 pounds. The eyes of the sea lion are unusual because there is a circle of white around the outer edges of the iris.

Sea lions can dive to depths of 600 feet to find food. Their diet includes a wide variety of invertebrate marine life including squid and octopus. They also enjoy cod, herring, pollock, halibut, and salmon. When hunting for food, they prefer off-bottom, schooling species.

The Steller's sea lion has an unusual way to reproduce. In mid-May, males establish territories at well-defined, traditionally used rookeries. The males establish and defend their harems with the use of many threat displays. Rarely, if ever, do they leave their territories during the breeding period. Breeding males starve for two to three months to protect their harem from other males. This is probably because the females are more gregarious and do not show any attachment to one specific male or territory. Females arrive at the rookeries to give birth, usually to a single pup. Shortly after giving birth, the female is ready to breed, but the fertilized egg does not implant in the uterus and begin growing until October. This is unusual, since pupping and breeding occur at the same time.

Fortunately for visitors and residents of Petersburg, we can often view Steller's sea lions swimming around our harbors or resting on the docks.

The National Marine Fisheries Service provides regulations for safe and considerate viewing.

For more information about sea lions, view the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Wildlife Notebook Series.