by Mary P. Brooke      |         Oct. 19, 2009

Local fishing enthusiasts may have recently discovered that a few enterprising Steller sea lions have relocated from the usual Race Rocks location over to the small Donaldson Island in East Sooke Regional Park, according to Sooke recreational fishing buff Donald C. Mills (author of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Guidebook).

"The sea lions are feeding opportunistically, including grabbing for themselves the fish hooked on the lines of fishermen nearby," said Mills after a fishing trip on calm waters, October 18.

The overall conditions that prompted the change in 'residency' for these sea lions might include a more exclusive territory, quieter conditions (compared to the overly crowded seal lion population generally resident on nearby Race Rocks), and the number of fish in the waters at that location.

Photo Copyright Donald C. Mills.    MM

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