With their whiskers, distinctive barks, and carefree attitudes, sea lions are really adorable and we’re fortunate in San Francisco to have places along fisherman’s wharf where we can see these animals in the wild, for free.  But as these half ton carnivores overrun working docks and public beaches, they’ve become more of a pest than an attraction.

After an especially strong breeding season, and with plenty of food available, sea lions are thriving … and getting way too close to swimmers like Sarah McCuskey. She showed us where one bit her little toe, and actually laughed about the experience. But fishermen aren’t laughing – sea lion are blocking access to their boats and damaging their docks. These animals can be aggressive and my crew and i kept a safe distance during our LIVE reports. The port of San Francisco plans to install 200-feet of rubber mesh barricade to keep the sea lions off the harbor’s docks, and if that doesn’t work, they’ll blast the animals with loud music, bright lights, and maybe high-pressure hoses.

Crab season starts soon, and scientists say the arrival of more boats, noise and dockside activity may persuade the sun-loving sea lions to leave on their own. No one wants to hurt these wild animals – and they are protected under federal law – but in situations like this, where they really are getting in people’s way, the animals can be “strongly encouraged” to move somewhere else … Maybe over to pier 39 where the sea lions are a huge and highly valued draw for tourists.