On World Beach Day, Follow the Sea Lion Way

It’s World Beach Day! If you’re looking to celebrate the day, we thought of a local resident who could provide a little guidance on how to live it up at the beach — the California sea lion.

With an estimated population of 257,606, California sea lions have it down when it comes to being beach bums. They welcome the chance to rest on land or water. They also enjoy social time, floating on the water, and keeping their body at just the right temperature. Let’s dive into these behaviors of the Zalophus californianus and see how you might adopt similar practices to make your own beach day a big splash!

Pick the perfect spot to rest

Sea lions are famous for locating resting places. In the ultimate form of relaxation, they sprawl on beaches, rocks, or docks, and they often prefer to nap nestled close to one another, forming one big pile. Sea lions sleep in various positions, including upright with their heads thrown back and noses pointed to the sky. 

In some cases, sea lions will even rest underwater since they can engage in unihemispheric sleep. This is where one hemisphere of their brain stays active while the other falls asleep, giving them the ability to stay alert and surface for air when needed.   

While we as humans don’t have this capability, we can take a page out of the sea lion playbook and find a comfy spot on shore to rest and relax. 

Let your worries float away

Sea lions tend to form rafts by floating together in the water. This is referred to as “jugging” or “rafting.” Engaging in this type of behavior helps sea lions relax, but it’s also a smart method they use to conserve energy. And, scientists surmise it may also be a thermoregulatory mechanism (we’ll get to that next). 

For us, the equivalent of rafting might look like lounging in an inner tube in a calm ocean bay, allowing oneself to experience the lightness of floating and letting all worries drift away.

Keep your temperature in check

Sea lions rely on various methods to regulate their body temperature — a process called thermoregulation — such as staying in the water, lying on damp sand, hanging out in the shade, or lifting their flippers for airflow.   

Coincidentally, as humans, we resort to similar measures when we need to bring our temperature down at the beach. This might involve drinking a cold glass of water, finding shade under an umbrella, or taking a quick dip into the ocean.

Seek out socialization opportunities

The beach is a great location for when you want to connect with friends and family members. Whether it’s a huddle around a bonfire, a picnic gathering, or a game of spikeball, the beach offers the perfect environment for socializing and having fun. 

Likewise, sea lions are also social animals and enjoy being close to each other. For them, grouping together provides warmth and a feeling of security. Much like we talk, tease, and gesture, they use vocalizations (barking and grunting), body language (head and flipper movements), and playful behaviors to communicate with each other.

Your favorite beach, their natural home

At the end of the day, we all have our own ways of enjoying our favorite beach … and then we go home. For sea lions, the beach is their home. However you choose to celebrate World Beach Day, make sure to show a little love to sea lions by giving them their distance (at least 150 feet) and leaving their house in proper order, collecting trash and debris they might be tempted to eat or become entangled with. 

You can find more interesting facts about sea lions on the National Marine Mammal Foundation’s website and also learn what to do if you ever encounter a strangled or stranded sea lion or seal.