An Intimate Trip

Below: male Steller Sea Lions hauled out on the rocks

Yesterday was an intimate trip for San Juan Safaris. We had a few guests from Thailand and Australia come along for a wildlife trip. The small group allowed for one on one attention to each passenger and their questions. Our trip began with no orca sightings, so we went straight to Speiden to see the Mouflon Sheep and Fallow Deer (no sightings of the Sica Deer yesterday). Not only did we see Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, and the regular Speiden fauna; we also got to see sixteen male Steller Sea Lions hauled out on Green Point (the eastern point of the island). Steller Sea Lions are exciting for our guests and crew to see because they are in fact endangered... meaning that there aren't many left in the world. Stellers are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which forbids the killing, harming, or harassing of any marine mammal, as well as the Endangered Species Act. With this federal protection, there is hope for the recovery of the Steller Sea Lion population. It's always fun to see them hunting in the water for fish and squid, however seeing them on land is quite a different scenario. When in the water, you really only get a good look at their head. When on land, you get to see just how enormous they are. Adult males can reach upwards of 2,400 lbs and 11ft in length. These guys were a bit smaller than that, but our guests were still in awe of their size and got some great pictures. Because the wind was blowing in our direction, we could even smell them! (They smell like fish for those of you who are curious... they could probably benefit from some baths.)

We went around Speiden to see some porpoises in the Haro Strait. They weren't as active today, but still came around the boat so our guests could get a good look. We saw a nice mix of Harbors and Dall's. We continued around the north side of Stuart Island and got some great looks at the Bald Eagles, Harbor Seals, and the fascinating real estate.

Because we enjoy developing relationships with our guests, we will have more intimate trips available this season on our boat called the Kittiwake. We will only take up to twelve people on a tour at a time, with no junior crew members (kids) allowed on these strictly adult tours. If you would like to book a small group for the Kittiwake, you can begin reserving now. Those trips will begin in June, when the weather and the orca are a bit more reliable.