Big, barking, bellowing sea lions back in B.C.'s Howe Sound

Sea lions ar support for their yearly see to B.C.'s irving howe Sound and have taken over two private docks, sending a cacophony of barking and bellowing through West Vancouver.

West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager admits people have complained to him about the ruckus.

“There are certainly people that call once in a while, I always encourage them to maybe put in an earplug and enjoy the symphony of the sea,” Sager said.

Last year, the sea lions took over a dock near Garrow Bay Park. The dock has been blocked off with a wooden fence surrounding it, preventing the animals from hanging out in the area.

“I think it's actually a wonderful reflection of how the marine life in the Howe Sound has come back,” Sager said.

Alex Cole lives near the docks and heard the sea lions' arrival in December.

“They’re big, loud, stinky beasts, but they're amazingly agile and they're vocal, and they have big personalities,” Cole said.

Cole has created a Facebook group so people can share wildlife sightings in Howe Sound.

Two species of sea lions showing up, both with distinct personalities and sounds, and their presence is a sign of a healthy ecosystem, according to experts.

Andrew Trites, director of the University of British Columbia’s Marine Mammal Research Unit, said Steller sea lions, which are native to B.C., are the largest of the six species of sea lions.

“The Stellers are very sensitive, and you wouldn't think that the world's biggest sea lion should be afraid of anything, and yet, at times, they seem to be afraid of their own shadows,” Trites said.

Steller sea lions can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms.

“You'll hear their roars, but it's just a much more subtle, I think, a more beautiful sound,” Trites said.

California sea lions also frequent B.C. Waters this time of year.

“When they arrive, it's almost like a biker gang convention. They just arrive out of nowhere, they cause havoc, they’re barking and belching,” Trites said.

The California sea lion is the louder species, he said.

“So if [people are] annoyed, it's because of those California sea lions, it's the Americans here barking, barking, barking,” Trites said. €œWe don't know why they do it. They can't help themselves.”

Large numbers of anchovies in recent years have been a game changer for Howe Sound around Squamish and Bowen Island, he said, bringing in sea lions, seals and humpback whales.

“It’s not a species that we ever thought of as being a common species,” Trites said. €œIt seems everyone likes to eat fatty fish.”

Trites said the California sea lions will typically be in B.C. Waters from November to March, sometimes longer, and then head back to California where females are waiting.

“If you're a sea lion, the bigger you are, the more attractive you are to the females,” he said.

Steller sea lions will travel to breeding areas in B.C., such as Triangle Island or the Scott Islands. Their population is believed to be roughly 43,000 and they are considered a species of special concern in Canada.

“They're going to become more and more regular because their numbers are increasing,” said Trites.

Back in the 1980s, Trites said, Howe Sound was a wildlife desert and devoid of life.

“Today is a complete reversal,” he said. €œThis is something to rejoice in.”

He hopes people will celebrate their return and watch them from a distance, not to disturb them.

"It's up to us to figure out how to continue to do it right so we can coexist with them,” Trites said.

Reporter, Sea-to-Sky region

---

---