Video: Boaters Befriend Sea Lion Pup

As many anglers have already found out, sea lions are super-friendly—sometimes a little bit too friendly. This couple got a once-in-a-lifetime experience when they took aboard a sea lion pup two miles off California’s Newport Beach.

This is not an especially uncommon occurrence, but when the young sea lion waddled over to the man’s lap and proceeded to cuddle with him, the couple knew they were party to a rare encounter. The pup even took a short nap.

A great experience all around, but why was the sea lion so eager to get on board the boat? As some viewers have already pointed out, sea lions are rather unpredictable creatures with an insatiable curiosity. Perhaps there was a shark nearby and the sea lion sought the safety of the boat, or it was curious about humans, or simply smelled fish on the boat. Plenty of anglers realize a little too late that sea lions are shameless thieves. Don’t let this cute face fool you, these creatures will steal the fish off your line in a heartbeat.

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