Citizens of Monterey, California were looking forward to spending hot summer days on San Carlos Beach, but Mother Nature had different plans. This beach has been closed to the public in an attempt to protect hundreds of sea lions who washed ashore.
It’s not uncommon for sea lions to be spotted up and down the California coast, but seeing them in such large numbers is an unusual occurrence. Monterey residents have been drawn to this spectacle and wanted to see them in person, prompting local authorities to take action.
San Carlos Beach has been closed the the public and people have been warned to watch the sea lions from a distance of at least 50 yards. It’s been estimated they’ll stay on San Carlos Beach for three to four weeks.
Lisa Uttal, a marine biologist with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, revealed that the majority of sea lions beached in Monterey are male and that they’ve most likely been attracted to the rich diversity in the food supply in this area.
“They migrate up here down from Ventura and the Channel Islands… They are incredibly mobile. They’re usually chasing the food and because Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is so productive out here, the productivity is really rich,” Uttal told Reuters.
