SAN DIEGO — A new video circulating on social media has captured another chaotic encounter between sea lions and a crowd of people at a beach in La Jolla on Sunday.
The video shared with CBS 8 shows dozens of people of all ages gathered too close to a group of sea lions at La Jolla Cove. The video shows the crowd of people running, scrambling away from the sea animals.
“They were getting closer and closer and, at some point, people were reaching their hand out to touch the sea lions,” said Amber Hand, who shared the video with CBS 8.
A few of the sea lions were seen jumping back into the ocean after the chaotic interaction.
According to the San Diego Sierra Club, sea lions can move deceptively fast on land. This is why it's recommended to always keep at least 50 ft between you and the sea lions when viewing the animals.
It’s not the first time visitors to San Diego beaches were caught on camera approaching, and in some cases petting, sea lions.
In July, a local San Diego man captured sea lions aggressively barking and sprinting toward people at La Jolla Cove.
A lifeguard was heard in the video warning visitors, "Please give that large, male sea lion plenty of room. They have bitten people, and they are protected animals.”
In June 2023, a video shared with CBS 8 showed a man who was said to be snorkeling got out of the water and immediately began to pet a sea lion pup.
California sea lions are protected throughout their range under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA Fisheries. The group is working to protect them in many ways, aiming for populations to stay stable and not fall to depleted or threatened levels.
In Sept. 2023, the City of San Diego voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the city's municipal code and close Point La Jolla and portions of Boomer Beach to people and dogs year-round as a precaution against humans interacting with California Sea Lions.
During a Sept. city council hearing, city staff said the closure is needed in order to prevent injury, possible abandonment of sea lion offspring, as well as aggressive behavior from adult sea lions.
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