Overview
- Pier 39 staff confirmed a Steller sea lion on K‑Dock and said the animal appears smaller than the spring visitor nicknamed Chonkers.
- Staff members think the new arrival is probably a different individual and are not planning to give it a name.
- Harbormaster and Pier 39 officials point to abundant anchovies and other forage in the Bay as the main reason Steller sea lions are visiting local docks.
- Marine Mammal Center and pier staff are monitoring the animal but expect a short stay and are managing crowds and tourist interest.
- Steller sea lions are much larger than the common California sea lions and their repeated sightings this year follow Chonkers’s multiweek visit that drew viral attention.