La Jolla's thriving sea lion population is a delight for tourists and a headache for some locals. Other coastal communities may face a similar problem soon.

The City of Monterey has closed San Carlos beach near Cannery Row after an influx of sea lions from the Channel Islands overtook the sands. (Credit: City of Monterey) ...

Footage shows people pulling a person out of the water from a raft at the docks of Pier 39 where the sea lions are usually laying out.

The sea lion population at San Francisco’s Pier 39 set a record this week.

Visitors gather to see the the surge in sea lions in San Francisco California sea lions lounge on docks at Pier 39 on May 05, 2024 in San Francisco, California.

Tourists watch California sea lions congregate at Pier 39 from an observation area on May 7, 2024, in San Francisco, California.

Some 1,100 to 1,200 sea lions have been counted flopping on and around the docks at San Francisco's Pier 39 in recent days — the highest number recorded in 15 years.

A record number of sea lions have taken over the San Francisco Bay’s Pier 39. The harbor master says the sea lion takeover is due to an usually high number of anchovies in the bay.

More than 1,000 sea lions gathered at San Francisco's Pier 39 last week, marking the largest congregation of the marine mammals at the city's Fisherman's Wharf in about 15 years. Justin Sullivan ...

It's the most sea lions the area has seen in 15 years, according to pier officials. Over 1,000 sea lions were counted this week, Pier 39 harbormaster Sheila Chandor told multiple media outlets.

Visitors gaze at sea lions lounging from Pier 39 on Thursday, in San Francisco. The echoes of barking and blubber-slapping have grown louder in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.