PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT TO SEE.. THE SEA LIONS UP CLOSE. ## WE’RE IN MONTEREY. IT’S BEAUTIFUL. AND HERE IS THIS. THE SEA LIONS HAVE HAD LOTS OF BABIES RECENTLY, I HAVE AND THEY’RE JUST HAVING A GREAT TIME. I’VE NEVER SEEN IT QUITE THIS, LIKE, ACTIVE WHERE THEY’RE DIVING IN, HAVING FOOD, SLIPPING OVER, YOU KNOW, HAVING THEIR LITTLE ARGUMENTS BEST PLACE IN MONTEREY IS THIS SPOT RIGHT HERE AT THE COAST GUARD PIER. AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. I’VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE. I LOVE IT HERE AT THE BEACH. THEY’RE TAKING OVER MY BEACH NOW. BUT I’M OKAY. I’M OKAY. DON’T WANT PEOPLE OUT HERE MESSING WITH SEALS IN NATURE. SO, I THINK THERE’S PROBABLY GOOD REASONING BEHIND IT. YOU DO HAVE TO HONOR THE FACT THAT WHEN WILDLIFE COMES IN, WE’VE GOT TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WHO THEY NEED TO BE SO THAT THEY CAN STAY AROUND. I GUESS FOR ME, IT’S. I STOPPED BECAUSE I REALLY NEVER HAVE SEEN THEM THIS ACTIVE, JUST THIS CONTENT. AND I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT YOU’RE SAFE. ABLE TO JUST BE HERE AND BE THEMSELVES. SO TO ME, THAT’S A REAL JOY TO BE ABLE TO WATCH NATURE TO ME AND ACT THE WAY THEY NORMALLY WOULD WITHOUT US INTERFERING. NOW A FINAL CHECK OF THE WEATHER…
Sea lions continue takeover of San Carlos Beach in Monterey
Updated: 4:07 PM PDT Sep 3, 2025
A growing colony of sea lions has taken over San Carlos Beach in Monterey, leading to its closure since August 21 and drawing visitors to witness the annual spectacle. Action News 8 photojournalist Matt Stirling spoke with people who came to see the sea lions up close.”We’re in Monterey. It’s beautiful. And here is this. The sea lions have had lots of babies recently,” one visitor from Modesto, Christine Hiett, said. “I’ve never seen it quite this active where they’re diving in, having food, slipping over, you know, having their little arguments.”Another visitor, Lorie Gardener, expressed their fascination with the scene, saying, “Best place in Monterey is this spot right here at the Coast Guard Pier. And I need to know what’s going on. I’ve never seen this before in my life. I love it here at the beach. They’re taking over my beach now. But I’m okay. I’m okay.””Don’t want people out here messing with seals in nature. So, I think there’s probably good reasoning behind it,” Thomas Callagy said.”You do have to honor the fact that when wildlife comes in, we’ve got to give them the opportunity to be who they need to be so that they can stay around,” Hiett added.Reflecting on the experience, Hiett said, “I guess for me, it’s. I stopped because I really never have seen them this active, just this content. And I think that might have something to do with the fact that you’re safe. Able to just be here and be themselves. So to me, that’s a real joy.”The visitors expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to watch nature act the way it normally would without human interference.See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
MONTEREY, Calif. —
A growing colony of sea lions has taken over San Carlos Beach in Monterey, leading to its closure since August 21 and drawing visitors to witness the annual spectacle. Action News 8 photojournalist Matt Stirling spoke with people who came to see the sea lions up close.
“We’re in Monterey. It’s beautiful. And here is this. The sea lions have had lots of babies recently,” one visitor from Modesto, Christine Hiett, said. “I’ve never seen it quite this active where they’re diving in, having food, slipping over, you know, having their little arguments.”
Another visitor, Lorie Gardener, expressed their fascination with the scene, saying, “Best place in Monterey is this spot right here at the Coast Guard Pier. And I need to know what’s going on. I’ve never seen this before in my life. I love it here at the beach. They’re taking over my beach now. But I’m okay. I’m okay.”
“Don’t want people out here messing with seals in nature. So, I think there’s probably good reasoning behind it,” Thomas Callagy said.
“You do have to honor the fact that when wildlife comes in, we’ve got to give them the opportunity to be who they need to be so that they can stay around,” Hiett added.
Reflecting on the experience, Hiett said, “I guess for me, it’s. I stopped because I really never have seen them this active, just this content. And I think that might have something to do with the fact that you’re safe. Able to just be here and be themselves. So to me, that’s a real joy.”
The visitors expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to watch nature act the way it normally would without human interference.
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel