Elephant Seal Colony

The Elephant seal hike, available December through February, is a spectacular opportunity for students to observe our local seal colony. On a single stretch of beach, students see the daily behaviors of hundreds of seals. They include territorial posturing and fighting, birthing of pups, nursing, and mating. Students learn and use field study and scientific monitoring techniques for mapping, sketching, and describing the colony and its behavior.

Through a half day of observing these amazing animals, students learn about the natural history of the Elephant seals, specific adaptations they have for survival, their yearly breeding cycle, and how humans have impacted their populations.

We consider ourselves very fortunate to have the opportunity to see these amazing animals. The pioneers of our local colony first appeared on November 25, 1990. Less than two dozen elephant seals were counted in the small cove just south of the Piedras Blancas lighthouse. In January of 1992 the first birth occurred.  In 1993, about 50 pups were born.  By 1996 the number of pups born soared to almost 1000 and the colony stretched all the way to the beaches that run along the Coast Highway. By 2005, nearly 3,500 pups covered the beaches of our local colony.

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Last update: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 8:30:02 AM
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