Growing concerns over harassment of sea lions in La Jolla

There are growing concerns over the harassment of sea lions in La Jolla.
The San Diego Sierra Club Chapter. along with the California Coastal Commission say the situation at Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach, just north of the Children's Pool, is out of control.
In images and video provided to News 8 by the Sierra Club, you can see people within inches of the sea lions posing for selfies, and in some cases, even touching them.
MORE: www.cbs8.com/article/news/gro...

[@mariavogel7865]

People are disgusting they should close the beach or start arresting them

[@dolphinboy6920]

Why do these people feel the need to get so close? You can appreciate them from a distance. The city should issue citations with fines to anyone who crosses the barrier.

[@Kento_yamazakkkiii]

Ikr....poor babies

[@jasestrickland1704]

The “no swim and no touch” circumference zones by sea lions has to be very wide. Sea lions are able to close the distance between people and themselves faster than most can imagine. I’m from Hawaii and unless you’ve grown up respecting/fearing them, it’s hard for some knuckleheads to understand this. They are unpredictable and their bites are MEAN.

[@enriquealvarez3267]

Attention seekers that's why

[@IAnonymous3]

They’re just stupid…. Regardless of what anyone says. They’re wild animals and people are invading their habitat. Suspect it won’t be long until the cove is shut down to the public… saw this going on yesterday and restrained myself from yelling at people… sort of wish I had now.. 5 feet away taking pictures while they kept barking to say get the hell away from us.

[@angelaprovenzanorush3733]

I hate humans!

[@aquasight1019]

The La Jolla coast is a beautiful carnival. The walkways are lined with people selling trinkets, roach coaches clog the street, sidewalks are cracked, guardrails are broken and held together with caution tape, animals harassed, snail-paced construction projects, ecotourism businesses are a blight. It is so embarrassing how this stretch of coast is managed.

[@bear4locos]

Somebody give them a fine and a high price. I feel bad for them. I wouldn’t even take my dog there cuz my dog started barking and you can see them frightened

[@vivavasquez]

protection is needed , they should have a park ranger standing guard over these animals or close the beach .

[@sage1875]

Victor Vasquez The beach should have been closed to these nasty sea lions when they began to move in there, they haven't always been there!

[@danieller5051]

It is literally right next to the main lifeguard station but it is so prevalent that the lifeguards can't (or won't) do anything. The father pup barks all day at these disrespectful tourists and still, they don't care. Close it off until humans learn how to respect. It's truly disgusting. I walk by this path every day and see it every single day.

[@Readysetgo2007]

​@@danieller5051 Aren't they talking with people on the speaker? Anyways, the area is closed right now or isn't it?

[@danieller5051]

@@Readysetgo2007 No, no one is doing anything. The Park Ranger truck is there but they're nowhere to be found. This Summer, a mom was trying to give birth (they can only do it on land) and she was surrounded by tourists taking pics so she went into the water - but, if the pup was born, it would have drowned as a result.

[@Readysetgo2007]

@@danieller5051 I think there's a video where you hear someone talk through a speaker though. And I think the area was temporarily closed but maybe it's open again now? I think they need guards working there with telling people to keep distance. Sad that kind of job is needed though. People should know to keep very good distance to wild animals.

[@madtwc4425]

Are you kidding me!!! What the h is wrong with these people !!!! Leave them alone you not put yourselves in danger but them too and that’s not right!! Don’t people have common sense and morals? It really makes me angry. And yes I like in San Diego.

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

I ❤️ SD and common sense, it’s not so common.

[@AsteraVale]

People need to be respectful towards these animals. People are selfish and disrespectful nowadays when it comes to this area. It makes me sad to see how much has changed over these past few years. As a local of San Diego, this used to be my favorite place to relax. Now when I go to these areas, it's full of people invading the animal's space. Like. Come on man.

[@joann3190]

People in the past aren’t no better too! Have you seen history. I hate when stupid people use “well in my days blah blah blah.” Well, in your days, people were abusing animals in the circus, putting cages out in the apartment for babies to be in, which is dangerous. Not to mention, killers can easily commit crimes without camera or dna. So shut it, old dude.

[@sage1875]

Yumato As a local of San Diego, surely you know when those nasty sea lions moved in to the cove!

[@ArizonaGuerrilla]

People will do anything just to get views on their Facebook.

[@mandychristie9021]

People are idiots when they ignore the warning signs just leave them alone its not difficult ,the warning signs are there for a reason

[@candacedawn357]

Stay back people! Getting a selfie is not that important!!

[@jasestrickland1704]

In Hawaii last year, a woman who knew about sea lion advisories and protection, swam near a mother sea lion and her pup on Waikiki beach. Even though she felt that she was at a safe distance away, she still swam into “a no swim” zone. That mother seal closed the distance in seconds and maimed the woman by biting her severely on the shoulder and face. Most of us in Hawaii respect and advise visitors but you’ll always find one dumbo on the beach who thinks they know nature better than the rest of us. Sea lions swim a lot faster than you can imagine. Nuff said…

[@smckay6438]

Well, we in the mainland are tired of environmentalists taking our childrens pools and giving them to sea lions that have liberally millions of places they can breed !

[@Readysetgo2007]

​@@smckay6438 What's wrong with moving your children to another beach? The sea lions are practically claiming the beach as their home. That should be prioritized imo cause humans aren't claiming beaches as their homes anyways.

[@smckay6438]

@@Readysetgo2007 the beach is not yours or the city's to give or take ! THE SCRIPTS FAMILY LEFT IT SPECIFICALLY TO THE CHILDREN OF SAN DIEGO! Thats why it has a wall and is safe for little children and handicapped people to go to a protected cove !

[@Readysetgo2007]

@@smckay6438 Easier solution to find another beach though, for the children. What else to do? Move all the sea lions to another beach? 🙄

[@smckay6438]

@@Readysetgo2007 you realize there are millions of sea lions ! And they attract sharks their main predators! Plus its easy to control ! On top of that la Jolla has a bird poo problem ! Im all for conservation but sea lions are not endangered And are a nuisance! They have flourished because of the over hunting of sharks for fins !

[@jst1man]

What's funny is when someone gets attached and they scream bloody murder, they have only themselves to blame, but will blame the Sea Lions.

[@scruffd0g193]

This boils my blood, why even go close at bother these sea animals.

[@crys4rmsd619]

Hire security guards to remain 24/7 here!

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

They have life guards but there r sooo many idiots to manage. Maybe close the beach👍

[@danieller5051]

Unfortunately La Jolla is still part of the city of San Diego and despite all the tax money SD gets from La Jolla, they ignore everything. It's truly sad because the tourists are actually destroying the delicate terrain to get to the pups. It's abhorrent.

[@Larry93215]

People are ignorant and it's getting worse

[@eugenegutierrez5106]

Most of these people are probably tourist or just plain no respect to these animals or just no common sense.

[@danieller5051]

they are indeed tourists, from neighboring cities, counties, states and countries. Sickening how disrespectful they all are

[@MilesBellas]

Create an artificial island off shore to attract them away?

[@imperpekto12ify]

These people are freakin crazy!

[@lilblackfish2009]

its a free country

[@elizabethingram9784]

Good, it’ about time. Seals need to be protected and cherished.

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

People n their ridiculous need for selfies … it’s exhausting.

[@scarletshield009]

Sea lions

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

The only growing concern in La Jolla should be who gets the Darwin Award.

[@StayWokePeople1]

Well it's July 27 2023 and still nothing is done ! There are just to many people not following the rules ! In fact it's even worse now !

[@audioeins]

california coastal commission sounds like a good authority, as does calofornia state parks system, and it might be good to let the california state parks system manage it. either way, people obviously can not be trusted and enough is enough of that.

[@sallymoen7932]

Seals and sea lions carry diseases, you do not want to touch them. Also they bite. In the Seattle area, wildlife rehab for seals & sea lions happens in a quarantine, because you can get really sick from handling them. (I believe it's salmonella, could be wrong...)

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

They’re not sick. It’s mating season. People have no business in this cove.

[@sage1875]

@sallymoen7932 In Seattle do you remember Herman the 1000 lb sea lion that stayed by the fish ladder to eat the salmon as they attempted to jump to spawn. He was hauled far away but returned. The officials should have humanely killed him. Maybe someday when all the salmon are gone as a food source for humans people will wake up and miss the salmon!

[@Readysetgo2007]

Both humans and animals can carry diseases. For all's safety it's best to not touch wild animals. Get an own pet if you must touch an animal.

[@lavenderlatte13]

FINESSSS ARRESTS!!! Shame!!! These ppl have no respect for wildlife!!! This is their home

[@isabellejaubert-fried1622]

This reminds me why I absolutely hate entitled humans. These animals are protected from you stay away from wild life (hence the definition) my goodness if you can’t think, you probably shouldn’t leave the house as you’re a hazard🙏🏽

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

That’s intense ;/

[@Misdirecting]

Sounds ridiculous but tiktok and social media outlets should be held responsible too. Thats the only reason these people are taking pictures with them. So, they can post to their social media. Todays world is very sad.

[@dcwinebuff]

Are you really expecting Americans to act responsible and considerate of nature and the environment, especially in the ghettos that California cities have become, where violent crime is virtually legal, laws are not enforced, and where homeless drug addicts and criminals are flocking to from all over the country because of the free handouts and illegal immigrant sanctuary status. If I were a sea lion, I would be moving to southern Mexico or Ecuador where there is still some semblance of law and order, and wildlife is better protected.

[@danieller5051]

It's actually tourists from all over the world, not just Americans. Mostly families who think it's entertaining. You know, the same families that go to Sea World and think an Orca in captivity, jumping through hoops is entertaining. Zero respect and a complete disregard for nature.

[@dcwinebuff]

@@danieller5051 Point well taken.

[@dylanvinas6100]

Seals can be friendly to humans sometimes so they are not that dangerous

[@guilleermojimenez5460]

If the authorities cannot protect the rich, unique and rare jewels of San Diego, then perhaps "locals only" surfers and south bay homies will have to step up to the task,and make examples of people from out of town who come here and disrespect our treasured home.

[@maxwaters1461]

Point La Jolla?

[@seektruth8662]

Close it down! You can't have nice things with all these arrogant, ignorant, entitled fools around.

[@lindaalaureano]

It's happening again July 2022

[@KanneloreHohl]

Whats wrong with These people? In Europe no one would get so close to these animals, respect them and their Environment

[@shazbazzy]

Last time I was there they had security keeping people a distance away from the seals … so how are these people so close

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

I was there 2 weeks ago n idiots were doing this nonsense then. Close this beach to visitors cuz people r 😳

[@danieller5051]

no security yet it's near the main lifeguard station but it's so prevalent that they don't do anything. What San Diego County needs to do is hire a lifeguard to keep this tiny space safe for the pups to nurse. The problem is La Jolla is still part of San Diego County and we can't delegate money to do this, we're trying though. As soon as La Jolla is able to incorporate itself into its own city, these loser tourists will be gone.

[@audioeins]

today is sunday may 19, 2024, and i just saw another news post similar to this. please stop talking about issues and instead find solutions to this unacceptable situation. please close off all access to their habitat, permanently, so these idiots can not keep doing this.

[@mariovargas3874]

How about adding some more rocks and a fence

[@danieller5051]

The terrain isn't sustainable for that, plus, La Jolla is still part of the city of San Diego. San Diego is the problem because they do nothing about anything. Even the roads here make the east coast seem like an ice skating rink. It is literally 💯the fault of the city of San Diego. Until La Jolla can break away, we are dependent on SD allocating money and resources to La Jolla.

[@user-pv2qd5jn3l]

Too much freedom for people by not obey the law is disgusting personalities for their own pleasure.

[@rejvexplx449]

oh really, what about sea lions in the zoo where they also have close and direct contact with humans. they train them, organize the so-called "encounter" where you can pet the animal, pose for a photo, swim with it, etc. their these rules do not apply ?

[@danieller5051]

OMG, please don't be so ignorant

[@commanderbell1965]

Someone going to get attack by Seal Lions

[@Liz-sc3np]

Good

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

It’s mating season. That cove should be closed.

[@jeremiahjohnson1513]

I do agree that there should be some rules but pinnipeds have proven to be very tolerant of humans and are not endangered any more. Since hunting ended they've rebounded and are so numerous they are considered pests in some places. Some animal species simply cannot tolerate the presence of humans, they won't eat or reproduce but that's not the case with pinnipeds, they will take over "urban" water areas and live, beg for food, reproduce and eat just fine, even though human activity is all around them. Plus, they have plenty of areas on islands off the coast or less accessible beaches where they live just fine and rarely see human. They're really not much different than your neighborhood squirrels, coyotes, crows or other urban wildlife. I think the beach where they closed it down during pup season but left it open the rest of the year was a fair compromise. As for environmentalist who sit on those beaches yelling at people to not get so close, your time would be better served working on issues like overfishing of endangered species (food for seals) and pollution. If those issues are dealt with, the seals will be just fine, even with some human interaction on a few beaches. Let's put it this way also, sharks and killer whales are far more disruptive to their lives than humans are now and you don't drive around in a boat telling them to stay away from seals, do you?

[@capptain_crunch9544]

No because sharks and killer whales are a crucial part of keeping their populations in check. If anything we probably need to be rooting for the sharks and killer whales because sea lions/ especially have reproduced to absurd quantities worldwide and seem to be at least partly to blame for decimated salmon runs. That being said. Were the stewards of this planet and since we have removed ourselves from the food chain, its just cruel, and frankly really stupid to challenge the comfort zones of organisms who still compete in the food chain and still answer to the cruel reality of natural selection.

[@jeremiahjohnson1513]

@@capptain_crunch9544 The tone of your comment seems to be in disagreement but your words are in agreement with me. But yes, you are correct in your analysis, expanding a bit more on the points I was making.

[@danieller5051]

Couldn't be more wrong. You don't live here and don't see the blatant disregard every single day. There's miles of space for tourists to go, this is a tiny area where mothers are trying to nurse their pups but selfish, rude and disrespectful tourists don't give a *(#&$. Until humans learn how to respect nature, close it off.

[@jeremiahjohnson1513]

@@danieller5051 Ok, if true and the seals on this particular beach are being disrupted to the point they are dying off, it still doesn't change the fact that seals are no longer endangered as a species, they have rebounded so well some cities are trying to figure out ways to get rid of them. Check out what's going on around the docks in San Fran or the Columbia rive dam in Oregon. Sorry, maybe it makes you feel self righteous and validated to obsess about a few seals on one beach but with other animals teetering on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching and pollution issues I have a hard time understanding why people like you aren't focused in that direction. Every year we lose more salmon runs and expanding seal populations are making it even more difficult for salmon to survive. Not blaming the seals, it's ultimately humans that are responsible but why aren't you working to help a species in actual danger of extinction? Don't you think that's a little more important?

[@jessvera872]

Wasn’t a problem until everyone started moving to Sunny San Diego….

[@Liz-sc3np]

You go leave first then

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

La Jolla lives on its tourism. These people r visitors, not residents.

[@sage1875]

Jess Vera Those nasty sea lions were not at La Jolla Cove when I lived in Linda Vista during World War ll!

[@Golfing422]

The pacific sucks, no thanks

[@danieller5051]

It is absolutely disgraceful the way tourists disrespect this area and the fact that these sea lions are trying to care for their pups. It needs to be closed permanently until people learn how to respect nature. Human respect: 0/10

[@vileoneful]

Well ummm look what kind of People are invading that state this will get worse

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

La Jolla is a beautiful upscale + community. ‘Invading?’ This has to do with the selfie generation. No common sense, no life in the moment. And yeah we all heard ur less than subtle nuance Archie Bunker.

[@hotwasabi8]

Legalize human-hunting in these protected areas.

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

🙄

[@IshmaelDoe]

on the one hand I think we shouldn't affect the seal negatively, put on the other hand I don't understand why all animal can go near seal while human can't (especially when we don't start petting or feeding them with huge amount of food)

[@maxwaters1461]

Position Navy Seal marksmen and take out offenders, the seal harassment would stop pretty quickly

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

🙄

[@jjr1728]

I'd rather they just fined people and had regular officer patrols.

[@derekge]

La Joma!

[@deanjohnston3153]

Fresh meat!!!

[@fn-2187bb8]

Nothing beats fresh meat. Plus you can't find good human on sale these days, Grocery stores got the prices so jacked up.

[@davidortega357]

Please leave sea lions alone let them have peace and rest there so cute 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@johnlloyd6908]

La Jolla is better off without those salty rodents

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

Agreed if ur referring to the selfie taking idiots.

[@YourMom-vl2sp]

Yummy. There's my dinner

[@fn-2187bb8]

be sure to check hip area, remove the iphone before eating the thigh meat.

[@sage1875]

During World War ll when I with my family lived in Linda Vista I would with my siblings take the bus to La Jolla to the cove and beach. Believe me! there were no sea lions, it was possible to open your eyes at the cove and see all kind of colorful tropical fish. Those sea lions have moved in since and ruined a beautiful place for human beings to tan and swim. The smell of their bodily waste has permeated the air and the smell is present in the businesses above the cove. Why are these sea lions protected? I for one am not for protecting animals when they are threatening humans food supply or being in a place where they move in and ruin it for humans!

[@danieller5051]

You're delusional. This is a tiny area that they live in compared to the hundreds of miles of beaches that people can go to. Please let the adults talk

[@sage1875]

@@danieller5051 Delusional, were you there during Word War ll, if not you should not be accusing someone who was there delusional! The sea lions have eaten all the tropical fish that were in the cove! I view the world differently than you do! I with the business people in La Jolla don't enjoy the smell of the sea lion waste as you do!

[@wmwardwell]

cbs San Diego is the least watched or liked news programs IN San Diego. They used to assist citizens with complaints, but no more.

[@iyamwhatiyam547]

And still a youngish idiot needed a selfie … so ?