San Francisco Pier 39 sea lions found in Oregon?

[Are_grits_groceries]

The mystery of the missing sea lions at San Francisco’s Pier 39 may have been solved. One of the most popular tourist spots in the city, the sea lions abdicated their throne over the past month, leaving only a dozen or so of their population behind and a city wondering what happened.

Marine experts now believe that the Pier 39 sea lions have gone to Oregon. A couple thousand California sea lions showed up off the coast of Oregon with their typical bark that separates them from the growling Stellar sea lions that usually live in Oregon.

Dan Harkins is the Sea Lion Caves general manager. He says: "We're seeing the sea lions coming up this way from California because of the feeding. If the cold water fish move north to find colder waters, the sea lions have to eat and they follow the fish wherever they go.”

Which begs the question: will they return in the spring?

http://www.examiner.com/x-12669-SF-Living-Green-Examiner~y2010m1d2-San-Francisco-Pier-39-sea-lions-found

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......

[murielm99]

1. I'm glad I got to see them when I visited there.

If they stay in Oregon, I hope the people there enjoy them.

[rucky]

4. The Sea Lion Caves are quite a sight.

When we went, it was packed with sea lions. I can't believe there's enough room in 'em for that many extra visitors.

[tigereye]

2. not because of earth quakes?

:D quoth my husband the wise-guy.



We enjoyed seeing them when we visited SF a few years back.

[defendandprotect]

3. Global Warming: All life is moving NORTH --

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. A lot of Californians move to Oregon and Washington.

We did and haven't looked back.

[Sebastian Doyle]

7. Well, at least the Sea Lions won't make the freeways worse

:evilgrin:

[Gman]

6. I wouldn't expect them back in the spring

if anything, why wouldn't they move further north as things start warming up and the colder water moves further north accordingly?

[quiller4]

8. This is an El Nino year. That is why CA water is warmer but weather

cooler and wetter than normal while OR and WA will be both warmer and drier throughout the Spring. The El Nino pattern only lasts 6-9 months after which CA waters will cool and weather warm. The fish will return to CA waters and the seal lions will follow them.

[Gman]

9. makes sense