A few times within the past weeks I've spotted a Steller sea lion out on the west side of Henry Island! (At least, I've only ever seen one at a time, so I'm assuming it's a lone creature, but there could be more...) They are easily identified because of their huge size, light flecked coloration and distinct movement. Compared to harbor seals they have a much more elongated face, long whiskers and those external ears are a dead giveaway. Adult male Steller sea lions can weigh about 2 tons-- that's almost four times as much as the females!
These opportunistic carnivores enter the Salish Sea to feed on small sharks, squid, rockfish, salmon, cod, and herring, although they have to be wary as their size makes them a tasty meal for the transient killer whale. Out on the water they are beautiful to watch, albeit from a distance. Their sheer strength and power is clearly visible when they surface and they can swim incredibly fast.
Steller sea lions can be found all over the west coast although most live in Alaska, where their numbers have declined about 80%! One important thing to remember about these sea lions is that they are listed as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species List, and there is intensive research underway to try to understand what is making the population plummet. I've been lucky to see them a few times, and it's always a treat.