Record number of barking mad sea lions take over famed San Francisco pier

Over a thousand sea lions descended upon San Francisco’s bustling Pier 39, marking the largest gathering of these charismatic creatures in 15 years. These aquatic mammals weren’t shy, basking, barking, and jostling for prime spots on the docks near Fisherman’s Wharf’s iconic Ferris wheel.

Experts believe a surge in anchovies, a favorite food source for sea lions, is behind the population boom. The throng of sea lions proved to be a delightful surprise for onlookers who couldn’t resist stopping to admire the adorable, portly visitors.

“It looks like a bunch of kids vying for a big spot on the couch,” tourist Les Oakes remarked to the outlet on Tuesday, “pretty cool.”

The last time Pier 39 witnessed a sea lion congregation of this size was back in 2009, when a record-breaking 1,700 animals took over the docks, CBS News reported.

“They are so funny and so nice, I love them. They are like pushing each other off into the water,” said Aurora Zantile, a visitor from Italy, to ABC 7.

Sheila Chandor, Pier 39’s Harbormaster, confirmed that the marina had indeed counted roughly 1,000 sea lions that week.

“We haven’t had these kind of numbers of sea lions for probably over 15 years,” Chandor added.