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Steller Sea Lion

Eumetopias jubatus

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 G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Endangered (some populations)[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
4 states[3]
Longest recorded life
32.8 years[4]

The Steller sea lion is a marine mammal in the family Otariidae, also called the Northern Sea Lion[5][6]. NatureServe lists it as native in Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington[3].

Conservation status

Under the US Endangered Species Act, the Western DPS (a distinct population segment, or separate regional group) of the Steller sea lion is Endangered, listed April 10, 1990[1]. The Eastern DPS was removed from the endangered species list because it recovered[7]. NatureServe gives the species a global rank of G3 (Vulnerable) and a US national rank of N3 (Vulnerable)[2][8]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Near threatened[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed April 10, 1990 (Western DPS - See 50 CFR 224.101)
Endangered Species Act[7] Delisted after recovery
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
NatureServe US rank[8] N3 (Vulnerable)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[9] Near threatened
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where Steller Sea Lion lives

NatureServe records the Steller sea lion as native in four states: Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington[3]. NatureServe also gives each of these states its own conservation rank[11]. A state list shows where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see one there[3].

Alaska: native, state rank S3AKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S3NWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank S3ORNevada: 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 S2CAUtah: 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[11].
Show state ranks (4 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS3Vulnerable
CaliforniaS2Imperiled
OregonS3Vulnerable
WashingtonS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe lists these habitat types: bare rock, tidal flat and shore, near shore and pelagic, which means open water[12]. The sea lions use coastal waters close to land and also waters over the continental slope[13]. Offshore, they stay within 35 km of land most of the time, though some range out several hundred kilometers[13]. Fewer are seen at sea in summer[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Steller sea lion eats mainly fish and squid-like animals called cephalopods, and sometimes other invertebrates[14][15]. EltonTraits estimates its diet at 100% fish[16]. NatureServe records a typical length of 300 cm (118 in) and a typical adult weight of 1000 kg (2205 lb)[17][18]. Females have one young at a time, after a pregnancy of 274 days[19][20]. AnAge lists the longest recorded lifespan as one that happened in captivity[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 300 cm (118 in)
Typical adult weight[18] 1000 kg (2205 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 32.8 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[19] 1
Gestation or incubation[20] 274 days
Female maturity[21] 1,780 days (about 4.9 years)
Food habits[15] Piscivore, Invertivore
Active[22] nocturnal, crepuscular

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 100% fish

When to look for it

EltonTraits lists the Steller sea lion as nocturnal and crepuscular, which means active at night and around dawn and dusk[22]. On GBIF, most observation records fall in June, July and August[23]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[23].

January: 184 recordsJanFebruary: 239 recordsFebMarch: 329 recordsMarApril: 493 recordsAprMay: 764 recordsMayJune: 1,073 recordsJunJuly: 1,102 recordsJulAugust: 992 recordsAugSeptember: 647 recordsSepOctober: 291 recordsOctNovember: 398 recordsNovDecember: 113 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[23].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January184
February239
March329
April493
May764
June1,073
July1,102
August992
September647
October291
November398
December113

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, Michigan[24]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Steller sea lion endangered?
The Western DPS is listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. The Eastern DPS was removed from the list because it recovered[7].
Where does the Steller sea lion live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington[3].
What does the Steller sea lion eat?
It feeds mainly on fish and cephalopods, and sometimes on other invertebrates[14][15].
How big is a Steller sea lion?
NatureServe records a typical length of 300 cm (118 in) and a typical adult weight of 1000 kg (2205 lb)[17][18].
How long does a Steller sea lion live?
AnAge lists the longest recorded lifespan, which was in captivity[4]. It is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Steller sea lion has the status Endangered, listed April 10, 1990 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Western DPS - See 50 CFR 224.101. USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Steller Sea Lion: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Steller Sea Lion as native in 4 US states and territories: Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 32.8 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is a mammal in the family Otariidae, order Carnivora. NatureServe Explorer
  6. Other English names listed by NatureServe for Steller Sea Lion: Northern Sea Lion, Steller Sea-lion. NatureServe Explorer
  7. USFWS ECOS lists Steller sea lion (Eastern DPS - Entire, except the population segment west of 1440 W. Long) with the status Recovery, meaning it was removed from the endangered species list because it recovered. It was first listed April 5, 1990. USFWS ECOS
  8. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  9. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Near threatened. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Steller Sea Lion (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Steller Sea Lion: Bare rock/talus/scree, Tidal flat/shore, Pelagic, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Steller Sea Lion. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Steller Sea Lion. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% fish. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 300 cm (118 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 1000 kg (2205 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1. AnAge
  20. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 274 days. AnAge
  21. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,780 days (about 4.9 years). AnAge
  22. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: nocturnal, crepuscular. EltonTraits 1.0
  23. GBIF observation records of Steller Sea Lion in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  24. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Steller Sea Lion: Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, Michigan. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

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.