Keeping people from harassing sea lions and seals at La Jolla Cove is an ongoing challenge for San Diego city park rangers.
On Sunday, a family visiting from China went too far with children reportedly throwing sand and rocks at some of the marine mammals on the shore.
San Diego photographer Jim Grant happened to be at the Cove taking still photos. He witnessed a park ranger confront the mother of the children and shot video with his cell phone.
“He [the park ranger] was giving a really stern warning to a couple of kids about throwing things,” Grant told NBC 7. “Finally he told the mother to come up from the beach and to the top of the stairs.”
Jim Grant Photography
Jim Grant Photography
In the video Grant shot, the park ranger is heard asking the mother, “in China do you throw dirt at the animals, too?”
Harassing sea lions at La Jolla Cove is a federal offense under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), carrying severe penalties of more than $30,000 per violation, and up to one year in prison.
The mother was not given a citation, only a warning and ordered to leave the Cove with her family.
Grant said that in the many years he has been photographing nature at the La Jolla Cove, he had never seen anyone be removed from the area.
M.G. Perez
M.G. Perez
Park rangers use a megaphone during the day to warn visitors that they are not following the rules. There is also a recorded message amplified often in English, Spanish, and Mandarin to make sure as many foreign tourists as possible understand the laws.
“The Cove is not your personal petting zoo, and it’s not the wild, wild, west. There are federal regulations that are put there for a reason,” Grant said.
M.G. Perez
M.G. Perez Jim Grant has been photographing marine wildlife at the La Jolla Cove for decades, as he was on Feb. 23, 2026. He is a San Diego native who calls his photography not only a hobby but also his passion.
About the Author
Discover more from USA NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
