If you live in City Centre, the Canada Line or honking horns might be your unwanted early morning alarm call; east of No. 5 Road and it’s likely blueberry cannons are your rude awakening.
In Steveston, well, a more natural nuisance — if you can call it that — assured some folks got up bright and early Friday and Saturday morning to see the sun rise.
What sounded like a sea lion announcing its arrival into Steveston Harbour caused Ross Lundie to open his eyes earlier than he would have liked.
Lundie, and others on local Facebook group Steveston Mens Support Group (SMSG), debated whether or not the call of nature was earlier in the season than usual.
“Got woke up early Saturday morning by what sounded like a sea lion in the harbour and he wouldn’t shut up,” posted Lundie, who lives three streets away from the harbour.
“First World Steveston problems,” wrote another poster.
Others, who say they live closer to the harbour, didn’t hear a thing.
“I’m a long-term (resident) here, more than 30 years and I know what a sea lion sounds like; it was a loud bark,” Lundie told The News.
“It’s usually only in the summer months, when the windows are open, that I hear them.
“It’s rare, but it is kinda cool. That’s why we all love living in Steveston.”
Tammy Taylor, manager and wildlife guide with Steveston-based Vancouver Whale Watch, said seals, such as the harbour variety, often frequent the harbour.
However, she said it’s highly unlikely the harbour seal would be mistaken for the deep growl or bark of the two sea lion varieties that spend the winter fattening up on the Steveston jetty.
“Seals do come into the harbour quite often, and it’s not that big of a surprise if it’s a harbour seal, as it’s the most abundant marine mammal we have here,” said Taylor.
“And we do have Californian and Steller sea lions in the area from the fall through to around Mother’s Day (May), but they are usually out at (Steveston) jetty.
“I would be curious what the sound was like that the person heard? It could have been a Steller; they kind of growl, while the Californians tend to bark, almost like a circus seal noise.
“We don’t normally hear too much from the harbour seals; I’ve been out kayaking before and heard the seals and it almost sounded like a baby crying; it was kind of eerie.”
Taylor said the sea lions have been known to venture into the harbour and she has been seeing more Stellers at this time of year than before.
