City of Monterey closes San Carlos Beach due to crowd of sea lions
MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Sea lions are back in the Monterey Peninsula, and they're taking over San Carlos beach in Monterey.
The City of Monterey's Parks Division announced today that they are closing San Carlos Beach temporarily due to a large crowd of sea lions. The city also mentioned that they noticed the influx of sea lions on the beach Friday.
The sea lions have been causing a lot of attraction for some people who live in and around the Central Coast.
“This is really magical. We did not expect to see this. We just came to take a stroll down cannery road and to our eyes and some pleasing to beautiful," Dee Esquibel from Sacramento said.
"I was amazed, and i think it might be because of the full moon was my first reaction.
journey." said Robert Ison, who lives in Pacific Grove.
For some people like Ison, he said he loves seeing the sea lions, and he's not bothered the beach is close.
"Well, that's fine, we can walk down and see them and look at it, it's worth it." said Ison.
For young folks like Journey Livernoche, she said closing the beach is important for the safety of the people.
"I think it's okay, too, sometimes to chase, I saw a video where they chase people when they're on the beach." said Livernoche.
According to Seal Sitters.org, it says seal lions breed around May to June, but females have a gestation period of 11 months and give birth around from June to August.
The city said that they are spread throughout San Carlos Beach and seem to be clustering around Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf.
"We want residents and visitors to be safe while visiting the coastline, and encourage enjoying and watching the sea lions from a distance of at least 50 yards," the city said in a Facebook post Monday. "Please remember, we humans are sharing this space with other species."
The city also said that they will post on Facebook again once the beach reopens.
Monterey also wants to remind people that all marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and that people who harass, feed, capture or kill any marine mammal could face a "hefty fine or even jail time."
"“I say this is nature at one of its finest moments. So you got it. You go out there, you know, just take a look for yourself.”
"When you get that close to an animal, or you disturb it in some way, you are taking away precious energy that that animal is otherwise needs for doing everything else it does in its daily life." Lisa Uttal with Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary said.
