A nip was all it took to convince Mark Stevenson he had overstayed his welcome at St Clair Beach yesterday.
He was out in the surf when two large sea lions "had a good go" at one of his paddles late yesterday morning.
They also nipped two surfers on their knees about the same time, he said on social media.
"We all paddled in and left it to them."
Department of Conservation Otago coastal biodiversity ranger Jim Fyfe said interactions between surfers and sea lions were not unusual, and he believed the sea lions were not out to harm them.
"It’s common for them to nip at people.
"They’re curious and they explore the world with their mouth and whiskers, so their approach to people is often with their mouth-end first — it will often be open and a bit nibbly, not so much biting.
"The whiskers on their nose are as sensitive as our fingers, so their way of exploring and interacting is by using their front end.
"There’s quite regular interactions between surfers and sea lions."
He said most surfers were used to them, but others were apprehensive — like some people were scared of dogs.
"If you run away from a dog, the dog may think you’re playing and it will chase you. Sea lions do the same thing.
"People who are more fearful of sea lions are more likely to swim away from them quickly, and suddenly the sea lion is thinking ‘here’s somebody to play with’."
He advised surfers and other beach users to ignore them and keep doing what you were doing, or slowly remove yourself.
"Don’t race away.
"If you are in a group, all you have to do is be more boring than everyone else. Don’t engage with them.
"Treat them with respect and be cautious around them.
"They’re much bigger and more powerful than we are, so retreat and be humble."
