Animal Behavior Project

1. By: Natalie Lakey

2. Description of Stellar Sea Lions
A comparison of a baby Steller Sea Lion
to an adult Steller Sea Lion.
A Steller Sea Lions face up close.

3. Where can I find a Steller Sea Lion?
Here we have a haulouts or rookery
with Steller Sea Lions on it.
This is a map showing red dots for
the populations of Steller Sea Lions
being known to live.

4. Communication
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n8nQqaHsNo
In the beginning of this video, we see and hear the
grunting of Steller Sea Lions and the bobbing of their
heads while they are communicating with one another.

5. Diet and Feeding Behavior
Atka Mackerel
Capelin
Rockfishes
Shrimp
Herring
Salmon
Pollock

6. Movement & Migration
From this map, we can see the migration patterns of Steller Sea Lions in different
seasons. The summer is typically when mating occurs so they are found bundled up
by each other in few areas. Then we winter comes around they all usually disperse to
find better foraging sites; males will go farther than females.
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/6F4F012C-8D22-46C0-A95F-
AA05524EF18B/fig04_eng.jpg

7. Natural Enemies & Defensive Behavior
Many factors that influence Steller Sea Lions threats are that of:
1. environmental changes (warming of Pacific Ocean)
2. Diseases (pneumonia, a bacterial infection called
Leptospirosis, which affects their kidneys and livers, and San
Miguel sea lion virus)
3. Predation (killer whales and sharks)
4. acoustic disturbances (noise chips, aircraft, research boats, or
military activities can affect vibrations in the water)
5. intentional take (fishermen shooting or capturing Sea Lions)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s56PEYP0D1E
In this video we see a shark attacking a Steller Sea Lion. We can see that a Sea
Lions only real defense mechanism is to swim away. They do not have any special
piece on their body that helps them fight away predators.

8. Social And Solitary Behavior
Here is a picture of Steller Sea
Lions on a refugee. On a
refugee it is common that you
will find more females than
males, due to the fact that
males are out traveling and
running into other animals
where they have to
communicate with one
another to stay safe.

9. Reproductive Behavior/Life Cycle
Females give birth
to their first pup
when they are 4 to 6
years old. They are
able to give birth
once a tear there
after.
Pups are born late May
through early July, most
during second or third
week of June.
Females stay
with pups for 9
days before
beginning a
regular routine
of foraging trips
to sea
Mother leaves to
feed at sea,
beginning a cycle 1-3
days at sea & 1-2 days
feeding her pup
Nursing period can last up
to 3 years, but in just 11-14
days females begin
breeding process again.
A Steller Sea Lions life
span is about 30 years for
females and 20 years for
males.

10. Conservation Status
1990- Steller Sea Lions were put on the Endangered Species List
1997- It was later recognized that there were 2 other populations of Steller
Sea Lions taking them off of the “Depleted” list and uplifted to the
Endangered Status under the ESA
2012- Eastern population was delisted by designing a Steller Sea Lion
Recover Plan
2013- Eastern population was removed from the ESA, but still holds its
depleted status under MMPA
As far as the Western population of Steller Sea Lion’s goes the Alaska Sea
Otter and Steller Sea Lion Commission will continue to keep a close eye on
Steller Sea Lions over the next few years to make sure that there is only a
positive change in the condition so that the population does not become
more endangered.

11. Current Research
We, the people, must keep our eye out for any suspicious behavior that
may be harming Steller Sea Lions to help keep their population growing!
They’re growling for your help.