The Steller sea lion spotted sunbathing at Pier 39 last week is in no hurry to leave San Francisco.
Harbor officials said Friday that the massive sea lion, “who looks more like a bear,” was continuing to frequent a dock near the Pier 39 viewing area. A photograph from the pier showed the Steller gazing off the edge of the dock, dwarfing the sea lions around him.
“He’s a morning lark, so you need to get to the Pier early to see him,” officials said in a news release. “This is a perfect way to enjoy the first day of spring on the waterfront.”
Pier 39 is typically populated by California sea lions, which don’t typically exceed more than 850 pounds or 7 feet. Male Steller sea lions can reach up to 2500 pounds and 11 feet, according to harbor officials. They’re among the largest members of the “eared seal” family to which all sea lions and fur seals belong.
Stellers are also distinguished by their light brown, fuzzy coats, giving the visitor to Pier 39 his bear-like appearance. The huge sea lions typically live around Alaska, but stray as far as San Francisco “every few years,” harbormaster Sheila Chandor told the Chronicle last week.