Catherine BabaultMar 11

Two large Steller sea lions growling at each other during the herring spawn.

California and Steller sea lions do not sound the same. Steller have a much deeper growl, which is a good reminder to keep a safe distance from them.

Photo taken yesterday with my telephoto lens.

#photography #wildlife #nature #SeaLions #HerringSpawn #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada

Show threadJamesAshburner
@CatherineBabault Having—accidentally—come too close to a Hooker’s sealion, I approve of your “keeping a safe distance”. My, our Hooker’s was more nonplussed than startled.
Oh, it’s 20 years ago come November.
Mar 11 at 7:58amWeb
Show threadCatherine BabaultMar 11

@JamesAshburnerCBR I regularly reiterate that I photograph wildlife from a safe distance as my photos might give the impression that I was very close.
The presence of hundreds of sea lions beaching in our region for the annual herring spawn has attracted crowds after making the news. So I'm also reminding people to keep their distance.

I looked at the Hooker's sea lion and read that they ''are one of the rarest and most endangered of the sea lions.''
https://www.marinebio.org/species/hookers-sea-lions/phocarctos-hookeri/

Hooker's Sea Lions | MarineBio Conservation Society

Hooker's sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri (Gray, 1844), aka New Zealand sea lions, are one of the rarest and most endangered of the sea lions.

MarineBio Conservation Society