#stellersealions

#BritishColumbiaWildlife #Photodump: From my #whalewatching trip: the #orca affectionately named #BigBoi by Goober, #EntranceIsland, one of the last human-operated #lighthouses in Canada, #StellerSeaLions, #cormorants #nesting in the #sandstonebluffs of @GabriolaIsland, and the requisite #seagull. #vancouverisland @vanislandwhale (at Nanaimo, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0PJLW3JqCd/?igshid=u355fofx8q0b

Imagine my surprise when I saw this steller sea lion poke it head up out of the water. This animal was really big, as you can see from the length of body just under the water. Unfortunately western Steller sea lions are on the endangered list. Threats to Steller sea lions include: boat/ ship strikes contaminants/ pollutants habitat degradation illegal hunting/ shooting offshore oil and gas exploration interactions (direct and indirect) with fisheries Direct fishing impacts are largely due to fishing gear (drift and set gillnets, longlines, trawls, etc.) that has the potential to entangle, hook, injure, or kill sea lions. They have been seen entangled in fishing equipment with what are considered "serious injuries." Indirect fisheries impacts include having to compete for food resources and possible modifications to critical habitat by fishing activities. @vancouverislandguide @vancouverisland #stellersealions #stellersealionsofinstagram #stellersealion #conservation #wildlifeconservation #endangeredspecies #endangered #wildlifephotography #wildlife_photography #sealife #savetheplanet #discovervancouverisland #explorevancouverisland #discovercanada #explorecanada #sonya7ii #sonyalpha7ii #lovemysonyalpha #natgeoyourshot #natgeowildlife (at Jack Point) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3NHIG7nBvz/?igshid=jjsjoi0fpxus