Steller Sea Lion
Steller sea lions, named for German botanist Georg Wilhelm Steller, are one of the largest members of the pinniped family which includes seals, sea lions and walruses. Females can grow up to 9 feet in length and weigh up to 1,000 pounds while males have been known to weigh in at a whopping 2,500 pounds and reach 12 feet from nose to tail. They are sometimes confused with California sea lions, but Stellers are much larger and have a lighter coat coloration. Males also lack the sagittal crest, or large bump on the top of the head, that distinguishes male California sea lions from their female counterparts. The fur of the Steller sea lion ranges in color from light tan to reddish brown, and they have a very broad, blunt head.
Like most large pinnipeds, Steller sea lions are polygynous, meaning each male mates with multiple females. They differ, however, in that females are free to move from one male’s harem to another; females are not coerced by males to remain in their rookery. Once a pup is born, females will leave the nest to forage offshore for fish such as cod, herring, mackerel and salmon, and squids and octopus.
Why does it need our help?
The Steller sea lion has recently caused a fair amount of controversy in Oregon. In the last few years, Steller sea lions have been leaving their coastal waters and entering the Columbia River. The Bonneville Dam is the first dam that salmon encounter on their spawning journey, and Steller sea lions have learned that waiting at the dam is a sure way to get a meal. This has concerned fisheries managers that work to protect the vulnerable salmon populations, but there are limited solutions because Steller sea lions are also a threatened species.
Recent decline in Steller sea lion numbers have alarmed experts, and the cause is not well understood. Eastern populations of the pinnipeds (living in the Aleutian Islands and Alaska) have suffered an 80% decline, and western populations in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California are also declining. One possible cause is the interaction between sea lions and fishing gear such as drift nets, longlines and trawling lines that usually results in serious injury or drowning from entanglement. Steller sea lions are also indirectly affected by human fishing practices because of increased competition for food sources that are a valuable fisheries resource. Learn about Oregon Wild's work to protect the integrity of Oregon's waters and riparian habitat that salmon and Steller sea lions depend on.
Did you know?
- Another name for Steller sea lions is northern sea lions.
- Steller sea lions have been known to dive as deep as 1300 feet below the surface in search of food.
- Male Steller sea lions will go for 2 months without eating in order to aggressively defend their breeding territory.
- These sea lions’ namesake, Georg Wilhelm Steller, discovered several other species as well, such as Steller’s sea cow, Steller’s jay, Steller’s sea eagle, Steller’s eider (a sea duck), and the gumboot chiton.