Pier 39 sea lions haul-out joke

California sea lions have been hauling out on floating docks at Pier 39 since the late 1980s/early 1990s, becoming a long-running, publicly visible colony that draws daily visitors. Their presence originally increased after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, though exact dates for initial arrival are variously reported. Locals and tour guides frequently joke that the sea lions are the Wharf's real residents and that visitors come more to see them than the shops. The colony's loud barking and large numbers are a consistent feature in accounts of Pier 39.