Viewing Elephant Seals in the Sanctuary

Michele Roest

Historically, elephant seals occurred all along the Pacific coast of North America. During the 1800's elephant seals were hunted extensively for their meat and blubber. By 1900, Northern elephant seals were believed extinct. A small colony remained off Baja California and all Northern elephant seals living today are descended from this small group. The present population is estimated to be about 150,000 seals.

A large colony of Northern elephant seals has been in residence since the early 1970's at Año Nuevo State Reserve, about 20 miles north of Santa Cruz. Two additional colonies occur in the southern region of the Sanctuary. In 1983 elephant seals began using beaches at Cape San Martin near the town of Gorda and in 1990 the first elephant seal pups were born at Point Piedras Blancas, approximately 8 miles north of San Simeon. It is likely that these new colonies developed as breeding colonies on the San Miguel and San Nicholas Islands became overcrowded.

As the population expands, seals are returning to ancestral breeding grounds throughout California. The population at Piedras Blancas is growing rapidly. Population estimates at Piedras Blancas, during the breeding season, are 7,500 seals.

Male Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). © 2000 Kip Evans for MBNMS

Elephant seals have a complex life cycle. The cycle begins in late November when the bulls (3,000 to 5,000 pounds) arrive at the breeding grounds. They have "site fidelity," meaning they return to their place of birth. The rest of the time they swim to nutrient-rich waters off Canada

and Alaska to feed. Pregnant females (900-1,800 pounds) arrive in December, give birth to their pups on land, in January and nurse them for about one month, wean them, mate with a bull, and then depart for the northern feeding grounds. By March, most of the adults have left. A few months later, they return to the site to molt their old fur and grow new fur, a process that takes about a month. The cycle begins again in November.

When viewing elephant seals or any marine mammal, it is important to stay at least 50 feet away from them. The seals fast when they come ashore for breeding and molting. Any disturbance wastes precious energy and could even affect their ability to survive. Dogs are threats to elephant seals. Keep them on leash, or preferably, in the car. Elephant seals carry diseases that can be picked up by dogs and people. Avoid walking barefoot on beaches where they occur.

People from all over the world come to watch these remarkable marine mammals during the breeding season at Año Nuevo and Piedras Blancas. Both areas provide excellent opportunities for viewing the seals without disturbing their natural breeding cycle. For information at Año Nuevo call Año Nuevo State Reserve at (650) 879-0227. For information at Piedras Blancas call the Friends of the Elephant Seal at (805) 924-1628.