The California sea lion is the mid-sized Oregon otriid. The body is slender and tapering, the flippers are relatively small, and the rear flippers can be rotated beneath the body for moving on land. The short, course pelage lacks dense underfur; when dry, it usually is chocolate brown, but individuals with light-tan pelage are known to occur. The pelage appears black when wet. In older males, the pate is tan.

The occurrence of the California sea lion along the Oregon coast is seasonal. The primary areas where it comes ashore are Cascade Head, Tillamook County; Cape Argo, Coos County; and Rouge Reef and Orford Reef in Curry County, but it also occurs in Yaquina Bay and at Sea Lion Caves in Lane County and on Simpson Reef, Coos County.

Many enter rivers to feed and some individuals migrate far up the larger rivers. These sea lions are superb swimmers and divers. They can stay under water for as long as 20 minutes.

Photo by Patti Berry