sea lion
public domain image

It’s not just San Francisco. Sea lions everywhere seem to be getting feisty. Last year, in a reenactment of The Wild Bunch, a renegade gang of sea lions took over a marina in Newport Beach and sank a yacht that was harbored there. And in Alaska a couple of years ago a sea lion jumped into a fisherman’s boat, pulled him out, and nearly drowned him.

No one’s sure why the sea lions are in such a foul mood. Some speculate that agricultural runoff and other polution, which can lead to the poisoning of the animals, may be at fault. Others say they’re just in a cranky mood. Whatever the case, these guys can weigh 1000 pounds, so consider keeping a little distance.