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California Sea Lion

Zalophus californianus

Mammal · family Otariidae · order Carnivora

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

California Sea Lion
Photo: marneejill, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
3 states[3]
Longest recorded life
35.7 years[4]

The California Sea Lion is a mammal in the family Otariidae, part of the order Carnivora[5]. It is ranked G5 (Secure) worldwide by NatureServe and is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the California Sea Lion a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N4 (Apparently Secure)[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The species is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. This reflects the USFWS ECOS data checked on 2026-10-30[1].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where California Sea Lion lives

NatureServe lists the California Sea Lion as native in 3 US states: California, Oregon and Washington[3]. The state ranks are shown in the table on this page[9]. GBIF observers have also reported it in Alaska and Texas, but those records show where people report the animal, not where it is native[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S4NWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (3 states)
StateRankMeaning
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS4Apparently Secure
WashingtonS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records several habitat types for this animal, including sand and dunes, bare rock, bays and sounds, tidal flats and shores, and near shore waters[11]. It lives in coastal waters[12]. It rests on rocky and sandy beaches, mostly on islands, and pups are born in colonies on those same kinds of beaches[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

The California Sea Lion eats fish and invertebrates, and EltonTraits estimates its diet at 60% fish and 40% invertebrates[13]. NatureServe describes it as an opportunistic feeder, meaning it eats what is available, such as squid, octopus and many kinds of fish[14]. NatureServe records a typical length of 250 cm (98 in) and a typical adult weight of 300 kg (661 lb)[15][16]. Gestation lasts 259 days[17].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 250 cm (98 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 300 kg (661 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 35.7 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[18] 1.2
Gestation or incubation[17] 259 days
Female maturity[19] 1,095 days (about 3.0 years)
Food habits[20] Piscivore, Invertivore
Active[21] nocturnal, crepuscular
Migration[22] long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[13]

  • 60% fish
  • 40% invertebrates

When to look for it

This sea lion is mostly active at night and is also active at dawn and dusk[23][21]. It feeds mostly at night and sleeps on beaches during the morning and midday[24]. NatureServe calls it a long-distance migrant, though populations can differ[22]. After the breeding season in August-September, some adult and younger males move north for the winter and return south in March-May[25]. GBIF records peak in July, August and September, which reflects when people look and report[26].

January: 2,419 recordsJanFebruary: 2,701 recordsFebMarch: 3,251 recordsMarApril: 3,043 recordsAprMay: 3,689 recordsMayJune: 3,473 recordsJunJuly: 3,937 recordsJulAugust: 4,218 recordsAugSeptember: 4,269 recordsSepOctober: 3,050 recordsOctNovember: 2,840 recordsNovDecember: 2,447 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January2,419
February2,701
March3,251
April3,043
May3,689
June3,473
July3,937
August4,218
September4,269
October3,050
November2,840
December2,447

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record California Sea Lion as present in 6 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Texas[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the California Sea Lion endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the California Sea Lion live?
NatureServe lists it as native in California, Oregon and Washington[3]. It lives in coastal waters and rests on beaches, mostly on islands[12].
What does the California Sea Lion eat?
It is an opportunistic feeder that eats squid, octopus and many fishes[14]. EltonTraits estimates 60% fish and 40% invertebrates[13].
How big is a California Sea Lion?
NatureServe records a typical length of 250 cm (98 in) and a typical adult weight of 300 kg (661 lb)[15][16].
When is the best time to see a California Sea Lion?
GBIF records fall mostly in July, August and September[26]. That shows when people look and report, not how many animals there are.

Facts and sources

  1. California Sea Lion is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for California Sea Lion: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists California Sea Lion as native in 3 US states and territories: California, Oregon, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 35.7 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) is a mammal in the family Otariidae, order Carnivora. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe state ranks for California Sea Lion (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of California Sea Lion: California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Texas. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for California Sea Lion: Sand/dune, Bare rock/talus/scree, Bay/sound, Tidal flat/shore, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for California Sea Lion. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 60% fish, 40% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  14. NatureServe notes on food for California Sea Lion. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 250 cm (98 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 300 kg (661 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 259 days. AnAge
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1.2. AnAge
  19. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,095 days (about 3.0 years). AnAge
  20. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  21. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: nocturnal, crepuscular. EltonTraits 1.0
  22. NatureServe migration category for California Sea Lion: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe notes on phenology for California Sea Lion. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for California Sea Lion. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of California Sea Lion in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording California Sea Lion as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: marneejill, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.