“Irving” the sea lion wanders into San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood

Residents of San Francisco’s Outer Sunset district were surprised early Thursday morning when a sea lion was spotted on the streets, interacting with police officers at the corner of 48th Avenue and Irving Street. The sea lion, later named Irving, had wandered from the ocean and was eventually secured by officers and park rangers in a large dog crate. It was taken to a ranger station until the Marine Mammal Center could retrieve it. Daniel Costa, an ecology professor at UC Santa Cruz, noted that the sea lion appeared healthy and suggested that sea lions are becoming more accustomed to humans. He warned, however, that while sea lions might seem friendly, they can be dangerous if cornered. The incident highlights the growing sea lion population since the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and raises questions about their habitat limits. The hope is that Irving will soon be released back into the Pacific Ocean. QUESTION: How might the increasing interaction between humans and sea lions impact both species in the future?