Should I be worried when a Harbor Seals or Sea Lions are following me in my kayak, or are they just curious?

Question

Should I be worried when a Harbor Seals or Sea Lions are following me in my kayak, or are they just curious?

Answer 1

No! You have no reason to feel threatend or worried - they are just curious and they are checking you out! Your in their home ( so to speak ) so they are probably wondering what you are all about.

Answer 2

It's not necessary to be 'worried' as such.  Mostly they're just curious at the weird sealife that has come their way.

But don't allow them to get too close.  They have been known to attempt to board boats, which can put you in the water with them, or just be darn pesky to taxi a seal on your trip.

Being in the water with a seal or sea lion is not fun.  Remember, they can hold their breath a lot longer than you, and they are big and strong.  Even if they just want to play, they can play rougher than a human.

During the mating season, they can also get aggressive and territorial.

Just avoid them, don't antagonise them by throwing things.  I've heard that beating your paddle on the water (like a flipper) can show them that you're not allowing them to come closer.  But I don't have any positive evidence that this has worked.  I would think it would just challenge them.

Answer 3

I am no expert on sea life but I think Harbor Seals are gentle creatures, but I would be ware of the Sea Lions. I think they can get very mean if young are involved.

Answer 4

get a dead fresh fish and stuff it with tabasco or any hot sauce and throw it at them. they didnt come after me anymore