A huge colony of sea lions has taken over the shores of San Carlos Beach in Monterey, California, and local officials have closed the beach since August 19th and ordered residents to keep a 50-yard distance from any marine mammal. The beach was officially closed by the City of Monterey’s Parks Division, which blocked the area off with barricades. At the same time, citizens take photos of the sea lions as they leisurely relax on the sand and in the water. Sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and federal officials say that for your safety and theirs, you should exercise caution and warn that feeding or harassing the animals is against the law. The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary said the hundreds of sea lions that congregate along the beaches in Monterey are mostly male sea lions. The sea lions have become a bit famous as this time of year finds them taking over beach Monterey beach areas as a rest point between their breeding grounds in the Channel Islands and the waters of Northern California.