A tense scene unfolded at La Jolla Cove on Sunday when a park ranger ordered a family off the rocks after children were seen throwing sand, stones and dirt at sea lions resting on the shoreline, video from the encounter shows. The confrontation ended with the family climbing the stairway and leaving the area as other onlookers watched from above.
San Diego photographer Jim Grant recorded the interaction and told NBC 7 San Diego that the ranger gave a really stern warning before directing the mother to the top of the stairs. In Grant’s video, the ranger can be heard asking, in China, do you throw dirt at the animals, too? The family, described in on-site reporting as visitors from China, was ordered to leave but was not cited. Grant, who has photographed the Cove for decades, said he had never previously seen anyone removed from the area.
Federal law and penalties
The Marine Mammal Protection Act makes it illegal to harass, feed or touch seals and sea lions, and federal officials can seek civil or criminal penalties, including fines in the tens of thousands of dollars and up to a year in prison, according to NOAA Fisheries. City park rangers can warn visitors and remove people from city property, but they do not have authority to enforce federal MMPA violations, as reported by CBS 8.
Rangers, signage and outreach
San Diego Parks & Recreation has increased ranger patrols at the Cove, consolidated warning signs and installed recorded announcements in English, Spanish and Mandarin that urge people not to get too close to the animals, per the City of San Diego and local coverage. Rangers say their primary role is public safety and education; they document incidents and can forward potential violations to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for review, and city staff have said outreach will be stepped up ahead of pupping season, local reporting adds.
Why it matters
Advocates and rescue groups warn that repeated disturbances can stress mother sea lions and in some cases lead to abandoned or injured pups. Local organizations and news coverage have linked these kinds of interactions to pup deaths, according to CBS 8. With millions of visitors to the Cove in recent years, rangers and wildlife advocates are pushing for clearer signage and steadier patrols to keep both people and pinnipeds safe…