They form large social groups during the late spring and summer breeding season on islands off southern California and Baja California, and on islands in the Gulf of California. Some mature animals migrate to southern California breeding grounds in late spring, and then return to Monterey Bay in the summer — often accompanied by more young animals from southern California. Males end up being much larger than the females. During the breeding season, bulls bark loudly and continuously to establish or defend their territories.

Sea lions are very social animals and live in colonies that may number in the thousands, especially during the breeding season. Like all other otariids, northern fur seals are polygynous, with some males breeding with up to 50 females in a single breeding season. Behavior California sea lions are very social animals, and groups often rest closely packed together at favored haul-out sites on land or float together on the ocean's surface in "rafts." Birthing and Breeding Season. They frequently lie near and on top of each other. Adult males are substantially more robust and larger than females. Xantus’s Murrelets (Synthiboramphus hypoleucus) breed and nest on the Channel Islands (March through July).

Most research indicates that California sea lions don't drink water, though males have been observed apparently drinking seawater while fasting. We received the pups to ensure their survival and they are thriving as adults. The species will also forage for food in deeper waters over the continental shelf (the relatively shallow waters surrounding a land mass).. During the mating season California sea lions congregate on remote sandy or rocky shores. Breeding mainly on offshore islands that run from the Channel Islands in southern California to Mexico, these sea lions typically live along coastlines but also occur in rivers along the coast of the northern Pacific. Male Sea Lions are mature about at about 6 years of age. Steller sea lions are not known to migrate, but they do disperse widely at times of the year other than the breeding season. In the wild, they are found in the North Pacific. California sea lions can also be found on man-made structures like piers, jetties, offshore buoys and oil platforms (Reidman, 1990). California sea lions generally obtain the water they need from their food. They often gather on rocky beaches, and on man-made structures such as docks. If you find an injured or sick seal or sea lion, you can call the Marine Mammal Center at 415-289-SEAL (7325), but please do not approach. They are friendly animals often seen doing a variety of tricks in various locations while in captivity. California sea lions inhabit British Columbia in Canada and south to Baja, Mexico, including in the Gulf of California.

The California sea lion is the well-known performing "seal" of zoos, circuses, and oceanaria. California sea lions hauled out on the coast. POPULATION Each year, during the breeding season, we conduct land-based and aerial surveys to count live California sea lion pups at U. S. colonies to estimate the number of births. California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) pupping and breeding season (May through July).