The Sea Lions in the vicinity of Juneau are quite different from those seen - for example - languishing on docks in San Francisco.

"Steller" Sea Lions are named after Dr. Wilhelm Steller, a Dutch Medical Doctor who accompanied the expedition the Vitus Bering expedition in1741 as a passenger-Botanist. It is characterized by by an external ear (which can be closed on entering water) and by hind flippers that face forward. (True seals have internal ears and hind flippers face backward)

About 70% of the world-wide population of "Stellers" (about 80,000) call Alaska home. Males are about ten feet (3 meters) and weigh about a ton (1,000 kilos). Females are about seven feet (2 meters) and about 700 pounds (300 kilos). Thus the males are bigger than any bears. Stellers live about 20 years. They are fast swimmers and can swim over 15 knots for short bursts. Their principal predator is the Orca, or "Killer Whale." ( Orcas )

Stellers are a "threatened" species in the Juneau area, where they are proliferating. A  few hundred miles west of Juneau they are classified "endangered." (Studies as to why these Sea Lions are "endangered" are focusing on their dietary choices, although stock depletion may also be due to increasing predator populations and disease.)

The picture below catches a Stellar Sea Lion in the act of swallowing a Coho ("Silver") salmon in one gulp! This is the ONLY time I have ever observed this. Normally the Sea Lion holds the salmon "sideways" in its teeth, and shakes the fish back and forth until a chunk breaks off, and then repeats the procedure. In the instance below, unfortunately out of the picture, two Bald Eagles were swooping down like bullets to "steal" the fish, so the Sea Lion flipped the fish, caught it in his mouth, and swallowed it whole - and then dove!

The Steller Sea Lions have no predator in nature other than the Orca (Killer Whale). "Resident" Orcas however eat only fish. Some of the Stellers in the vicinity of Juneau bear branded numbers for identification for scientific research.

About twenty miles north of Juneau there exists two large "rookeries."