California sea lion in a forest of giant kelp near the Channel Islands of California

© Nature Picture Library/Alam

Who's hiding in the kelp?

This California sea lion is peeking out from a kelp forest near the Channel Islands of California. Although this species is named for the Golden State, the California sea lion's range stretches all along the western coast of North America, from central Mexico up to Southeast Alaska. They tend to live in shallow coastal areas, dining on squid, anchovies, mackerel, and more. Highly social and intelligent, California sea lions often congregate in large—and loud—colonies on beaches and rocky shores to breed and have their pups.

Why roar about sea lions today? It's World Sea Lion Day, of course.