Sea Lions Trickling Back to San Francisco's Pier 39

Perhaps they simply decided to step out for a bite after all.

While their numbers are currently in the dozens, as opposed to the record 1,700 jockeying for place on the docks mere weeks before disappearing completely, the famed sea lions of San Francisco's Pier 39 may be in the beginning stage of a return to their crowd-pleasing hangout of the past two decades.

As San Francisco ABC affiliate KGO is reporting, marine experts believe that the recent reappearance of a few of the animals to Pier 39, along with reports that the several thousand California sea lions that appeared on the Oregon coast have mostly left, point to a return in greater numbers as likely.

Back in January, Tonic wrote that the baffling exodus of the tourist-attracting urban wildlife population was likely a result of following their food supply; a subsequent article confirmed this with news that the sea lions followed a moving buffet of anchovies up the Pacific coast to Florence, Oregon.

While their initial appearance in large numbers in the Fisherman's Wharf area was seen as an annoyance back in the late 1980s, the mood of local merchants shifted once it became apparent that their presence was a draw for visitors eager to watch the sea lions bask, frolic, lounge and squabble. Business-keepers in the area have their fingers collectively crossed that the attraction will return to its former state of activity.

KGO reports that a 20th anniversary party that had been scheduled for Jan. 15 had to be called off when the guests of honor failed to arrive. But we should keep our eyes peeled for activity by way of the sea lion webcam, as the party will be back on just as soon as the number of honored guests reaches 250 or so according to a Pier 39 official.

Photo by David Ball via Wikimedia Commons.