54 POINT LOBOS RESERVE 



Harvest Mouse — Reithrodontomys megalotis (Baird) 

 White-footed Mouse — Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner) 

 Wood Rat — Neotoma fuscipes Baird 

 Meadow Mouse — Microtus calif ornicus (Peale) 

 House Mouse — Mus musculus Linnaeus 

 Jack Rabbit — Lepus calif ornicus Gray- 

 Brush Rabbit — Sylvilagiis hachmani (Waterhouse) 

 Black-tailed Deer — Odocoileus columhianus (Richardson) 



Sieller Sea Lion and California Sea Lion 



Of all the mammals at Point Lobos the Steller sea lion attracts more 

 attention from visitors than any other. Not only is it the predominant 

 species on the rocks off the shore near the tip of the point, but groups of 

 individuals are seen frequently in the water close to shore. The animals are 

 present the year round, but their numbers seem to increase considerably 

 in the spring, about the middle of April. 



Sea lions may be distinguished easily from seals by the presence of an 

 external ear, by their much longer necks, allowing them to carry their 

 heads high, and by their active, sportive, and noisy natures. Seals are 

 clumsy, short-necked, quiet animals. 



The fur seal, not seen on this coast, is also a sea lion but he has a thick 

 under-fur not found on these species. Some writers claim that sea lions 

 received their name because of the lion-like appearance of the faces of 

 some of the huge males. Others say it is the fur manes of the animals which 

 suggested their names. 



Not so large as the Steller sea lion, and far more intelligent than a seal, 

 the California sea lion is the one you have nearly always seen balancing 

 a ball on the tip of his nose in some circus or on a vaudeville stage. This 

 fellow can live quite easily in fresh water. 



The California sea lion inhabits almost the entire coast of California. 

 It is always associated at Point Lobos with the Steller sea lion, though it is 

 represented by a considerably smaller number. The dark coloration, the 

 "hump" on the forehead, and the bark which resembles that of a hound, 

 are characteristics which in combination serve to distinguish this species. 

 Apparently the two are friendly, at least when on these rocky resting- 

 places. Most of the time they are crowded together in "bunches," both 

 Steller and California sea lions in the group, but those of the California 

 species keep fairly close together within the group. Two individuals of 

 the same species sometimes snap at each other; not so frequently two of 

 different species engage in a skirmish. Even the old males, who do most of 

 the fighting, are timid if approached by a man. 



Usually sea lions are seen hauled out on the rock surfaces above reach 

 of the surf, lolling about, sprawled out, prone, with only rarely even a 

 head raised. The animals seem to be sunning themselves, with no concern 

 for any kind of outside disturbance. Counting them from the shore is 

 almost impossible because the animals keep so close together, often appear- 

 ing even to be across one another. 



On the lower ledges, evidently just out of the water and still wet, they 

 nearly always look shiny and dark-colored. The ones high on the rocks, 

 apparently dry, are dull and golden brown in color. Seen swimming be- 

 neath the water they may appear distinctly green. 



