Name: Experts blame American sea lions for loud barking in B.C waters
Uploaded: 2026-01-16T14:56:03.011Z
Duration: 2 min
Description: You’ll likely hear them before you see them. Sea Lions are making themselves heard in West Vancouver. As the CBC’s Alanna Kelly reports, experts say people should embrace and celebrate the noise.

You’ll likely hear them before you see them. Sea Lions are making themselves heard in West Vancouver. As the CBC’s Alanna Kelly reports, experts say people should embrace and celebrate the noise.

West Vancouver

Experts in West Vancouver, British Columbia, have identified visiting California sea lions as the source of increased noise in local waters. While Steller sea lions are native to the area, the arrival of the more vocal California sea lions has led to complaints from residents about loud barking and belching.

Despite the disturbance, experts view the rising numbers of sea lions as a positive sign of environmental recovery in the Salish Sea. Local authorities encourage residents to appreciate the presence of these animals, as their return indicates successful conservation efforts.

Experts blame American sea lions for loud barking in B.C waters

The boisterous boys are back. They're big loud stinky beasts but they're amazingly agile and they're vocal and they have a big personality. Alex Cole knows everyone around here and wants this pristine place protected. Ever since I was little I loved wildlife. He operates a wildlife sighting Facebook group and knew right when the sea lions arrived. I see them every day and I hear them every day. I live, I'm lucky to live on the water. These stellar sea lions are BC born. Spends most, almost their entire lives in BC. They can weigh up to a ton but don't be fooled by their size. The stellars are very sensitive and you wouldn't think that the world's biggest sea lion should be afraid of anything and yet at times they seem to be afraid of their own shadows. These ones are visitors. And that's the California sea lion. When they arrive it's almost like a biker gang convention. They just arrive out of nowhere, they cause havoc, they're barking and belching. If you don't enjoy the noise, it's because of those California sea lions. So you can think it's the Americans here barking, barking, barking. There's no women here, just barking, bellowing boys. They need to fatten up in order to go back for the early summer period to start breeding. Over the years, people have complained to the mayor about all the ruckus. There are certainly people that call once in a while, but I always encourage them to maybe put in an earplug and enjoy the symphony of the sea. But get used to it. They're going to become more and more regular because their numbers are increasing. It's a positive sign. The Salish Sea is recovering. It's a sign that we're doing things right and it's up to us to figure out how to continue to do it right. A noisy visitor that's coming back whether the welcome mat is out or not. Alana Kelly, CBC News, West Vancouver.

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