Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)

Photo courtesy Dr. Marty Haulena, The Marine Mammal Center

These large Otariids can be found in the inland waters of Washington and British Columbia from September to May. Most of these over-wintering animals are males. Other than periodic surveys of animals hauled out, very little research has been done on this species in the inland waters area. The population segment west of 144¡ W. Long (including over-wintering males in the inland waters) has been designated threatened under the U.S. Federal ESA and by the state of Washington and are candidates for extirpated, endangered, or threatened status in British Columbia (red list). For more information on the natural history of steller sea lions visit the Whale Museums' Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea.