California Sea Lion for Kids Ages 3-12

California Sea Lion

A friendly California Sea Lion describes his life on the Pacific coast. He explains how he's different from a seal, talks about growing up in a crowded rookery where his mom found him by his unique bark, and shares how he learned to swim and hunt. He loves to sunbathe with friends and tells the story of how his relatives made PIER 39 famous in 1990. He finishes by explaining his important job in the ocean's food web and how the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 helps keep his family safe, making them a sign of a healthy ocean.

First Described c. 1828

Marine Mammal Protection Act Enacted 1970

Arrival at PIER 39 c. 1970

A Sea Lion's Tale

Hello there! My name is a California Sea Lion, and I love to bark! BARK! BARK! I live along the sunny coast of the big Pacific Ocean. My life is full of splashing, playing, and talking with my friends. We are very noisy! Some people think I'm a seal, but I'm a little different. See these little flaps on the sides of my head? Those are my ears! Seals don't have those. Also, I can use my big, strong flippers to 'walk' around when I'm on the rocky shores or sandy beaches. It’s pretty neat to be able to move around on both land and in the water. I get the best of both worlds!

I was born in a super busy place called a rookery. It's a huge group where thousands of my sea lion family members live together. It was so crowded and loud, but my mom was amazing. She could always find me, even among all the other pups, just by listening for my special bark. It was like my own secret call just for her! When I was little, she taught me how to swim in the cool ocean waves. At first, it was a little scary, but soon I was zipping and diving like a pro. I learned to use my super-sensitive whiskers to feel for food in the water. They tickled as they helped me find my first yummy snacks, like wiggly squid and tiny, shiny fish. It was the best school ever, and the ocean was my classroom and my playground.

One of my favorite things to do is hang out with my friends. We are very social animals! We love to find a good spot, like a big rock, a floating buoy, or a wooden dock, and pile on top of each other to soak up the warm sun. It’s like a big, sleepy sea lion cuddle puddle! We get all warm and toasty before diving back into the chilly water to play. Speaking of favorite hangout spots, in 1990, something really cool happened. A huge group of my relatives discovered PIER 39 in a city called San Francisco. They decided it was the perfect place to rest, and they’ve been going there ever since! Now, we are famous there, and people come from all over to see us lounging around. When we're not sunbathing, we love to play games like tag in the waves, zipping through the water as fast as we can.

Being a sea lion isn't all fun and games, though. I have a very important job in the ocean. I am part of something called the food web. By eating different kinds of fish and squid, I help keep the ocean in balance, making sure no single type of fish becomes too common. It's my way of being a good ocean neighbor! My family and I are protected, too. In 1972, people enacted a special rule called the Marine Mammal Protection Act to help keep us safe from harm. This law prohibits the harassment, hunting, capturing, or killing of marine mammals, allowing California sea lions to engage in natural behaviors with reduced human interference. So, when you see me and my friends barking on the coast, remember that you are seeing a key part of a healthy, happy ocean. The presence and abundance of California sea lions can indicate certain aspects of ocean health, such as prey availability, but do not provide a comprehensive assessment of overall ocean health. We are a sign that the water is full of life.