Joanna of Cup of Joe wrote today about the disappearance of the sea lions from Fisherman's Wharf (their home for twenty years now) in San Francisco, which made me think that I have to mention it here too, as they were my neighbors! I live quite close to Fisherman's Wharf and the barking of sea lions was something I had to get used to. Their yelps could be heard almost every night, quite clearly. It's a very throaty, and a bit drunken and goofy sound :). They can get very loud and wild, especially if the night is warm.
Here is how it used to be...

They look like pods! {you can click to expand}
In the last count there was supposed to be exactly 1701 sea lions, but all of a sudden there were only half a dozen left. They were all gone. Quite shocking!

Here is how it looks now. A ghost pier!
People were very upset that the sea lions were gone as they were a welcome, funny and cute attraction. And they acted like huge dogs, basking in the sun and begging for food. And, the question that was baffling and worrying the experts was why they were suddenly gone? Was there a huge earthquake coming, were the waters so polluted, did we do something to offend them :)!
Then, several days ago there was an article on the front page of SF Chronicle - Thousands of sea lions show up on Oregon coast - are they ours? Aha! They were spotted about 500 miles north of the Golden Gate, 2000 of them. At Sea Lion Caves, a private preserve near the town of Florence.

Sea lions in the cave, Oregon coast.
It seems that they left SF as there was a shortage of herring, which is their main food, and that the waters were perhaps too warm for them in the Bay. Read the full article here. Sea lions, we want you back!
xoxoxo
{photos via sfgate}
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