Sea you later!
Dozens of beachgoers in San Diego ran for their lives when a defensive sea lion charged at the unwelcomed human visitors who seemingly approached its pups.
The sea lion was captured on video swimming around La Jolla Cove with the babies before it began barking at the swimmers on June 23.
“Oh, they are kind of close, get out of the water, fat ass,” one person can be heard saying before the sea lion rushes out of the water.
Several people jumped up from where they were seated on the beach as the sea lion leaped toward them.
Some leisurely carried their belongings away while others pulled out their phones to document their close encounter with the protective mother, video captured by tourist Lauren Bertrand shows.
“Visited La Jolla, CA this weekend to see the Sea Lions in their (natural) habitat and to learn more about these ‘protected’ ecosystems,” Bertrand said on TikTok. “The people were peopling and this big guy was NOT having it.”
The video cuts to an adult sea lion and a juvenile in a full sprint barreling toward swimmers, forcing them to either run out of the way or flop backward into the water.
The sea lion put the brakes on her attack before anyone was injured.
La Jolla Cove is situated roughly 200 yards from Point La Jolla, a rocky portion of the San Diego coastline, which has turned into a popular hang-out spot for sea lions.
Point La Jolla was closed for public access indefinitely last September following complaints from residents and activists to protect the sea lions.
The unanimous city council decision came months after a similar situation where two large sea lions charged at beachgoers wading in the waters of La Jolla Cove.
“Please give that large, male sea lion plenty of room,” a lifeguard can be heard saying over a loudspeaker. “They have bitten people, and they are protected animals.”
San Diego has provided ample warnings to the public alerting them of the dangers they risk going near the wildlife living in the area.
“Members of the public have been observed trying to touch, take selfies, and get as close to sea lions as possible which is a dangerous situation for both the public and the animals,” the city’s website reads.
It is dangerous for humans to get close to the Califonia sea lions during the summer months, as pupping season runs from early May and late October.
Those months are “a very important time for mother sea lions and their young to bond, nurse and learn to swim.”
Human interactions with adult sea lions and their young during this period could result in injury or abandonment of sea lion offspring and aggressive behavior from adult sea lions,” the website warns. “These interactions are not only dangerous for both humans and wildlife, it may be a violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act which helps to safeguard these animals.”
Along with the digital warnings, signs have been posted throughout the beach, detailing designated swim areas, closed-off sections and reminders to not bring dogs in certain areas.