What time of year are the elephant seals in San Simeon?
Elephant Seals are seen year-round at the Piedras Blancas Rookery. Best times of year to see these amazing animals in action are October through May with the big show (birthing and breeding) in January and February.
Where do I see the elephant seals in San Simeon?
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
The best viewing areas are located 90 miles south of Monterey, 5 miles north of Hearst Castle State Historical Monument in San Simeon. They are 1.5 miles south of Point Piedras Blancas. The viewing areas are open every day of the year, are wheelchair accessible and free.
How long are elephant seals in San Simeon?
Female and juvenile elephant seals return from their stints at sea in April for molting season, which lasts four to six weeks. Populations on the shore of San Simeon peak again during this time, but most of these seals finish molting and return to the sea by late May.
When did elephant seals go extinct?
1884
In 1884 the subspecies was declared extinct, as so many were hunted for their blubber. The little pups might look adorable now, but they can grow phenomenally large, with the males reaching up to 2,000 kilogrammes (roughly the same weight as an Indian rhino).
What is the best time of day to see elephant seals?
morning
The best time to see a seal give birth to a pup is in the morning, between sunrise and 10 a.m., Curtis said. (Coincidentally, that’s also the time of the day when there are the least humans at elephant seal rookeries.)
What time do seals come out?
When it’s hot and sunny, the seals typically leave the beach each morning by 7:00 or 8:00am at the latest. They’ll gradually return to the sand in the late afternoon or early evening, once the shade and/or tide has cooled off the sand.
How far are elephant seals from Cambria?
Finding the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals Beach
The Piedras Blancas Beach is well signposted, about four miles north of the entrance to Hearst Castle, and about twelve miles north of the town of Cambria.
Do elephant seals fight to the death?
Do big males fight to the death? Rarely. During the breeding season, bulls battle each other for the right to breed with the females. These confrontations are often bloody, but rarely result in serious injury to either bull.
Are elephant seals aggressive to humans?
“Bottom line is, he’s very dangerous,” said Allen. “You wouldn’t want to get bitten by one. They have huge incisors, and even a warning nip can break a human bone.” Northern elephant seals are found in the North Pacific, from Baja California to the Aleutian Islands.
How close can you get to an elephant seal?
If a seal becomes alert or nervous and begins to move away, you are too close. Stay at least 25 feet (~8 meters) from elephant seals.
What time of day is best to see elephant seals?
Are sea lions friendly?
Los Islotes is known as one of the friendliest colonies in the world. The pups are particularly playful and curious towards humans and our interesting shaped fins.
Where are the elephant seals in Morro Bay?
The elephant seal rookery spreads out over 6 miles of beach from Point Piedras Blancas on the central coast of California. The best viewing areas are located 5 miles north of Hearst Castle State Historical Monument in San Simeon. The viewing areas are open every day of the year, are wheelchair accessible and free.
Do elephant seals eat sharks?
Northern elephant seals’ diet primarily consists of squid and fishes, but they also consume rays and sharks.
Do seals like humans?
Wild seals are not friendly towards humans, but they’ve got used to human presence as they are often fed, so they’ve become neutral. However, despite their friendly-looking appearance, seals can be dangerous to humans, and because of that, they should be treated with caution like every other wild animal.
Do Orcas hunt elephant seals?
Elephant seals only have two predators. White sharks and orcas are the only known animals to prey on the large elephant seals, according to the National Park Service.
Can an elephant seal hurt you?
Elephant seals have large, sharp teeth and can bite. They carry bacteria that can cause very serious infections for humans and pets.
Can you pet an elephant seal?
Seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is against the law to touch, feed or otherwise harass seals. Harassment occurs whenever your behavior changes their behavior.
What happens if a sea lion bites you?
Boehm explained that in a sea lion, or any mammal, including humans, the toxin mimics a neurotransmitter, latching onto neurons and causing them to fire at a rapid pace that can cause seizures and abnormal behavior. The toxin, if it goes untreated, can cause brain damage and death.
Where are the sea lions in Morro Bay?
Just look for the three vertical pilings to the right of Morro Rock. Even when Morro Rock is shrouded in fog, the sea lion dock is usually visible from our Baycam.
Can a seal survive a shark bite?
In many cases, elephant seals can survive shark bites because of their blubber layer — but may end up with large scars on their bodies after the wounds heal. “Smaller seals still provide a good meal to the sharks and are not as difficult to fight against as the larger adult seals,” park officials said.
Will a seal bite you?
Like our cherished Assateague ponies, seals are large wild animals and can be extremely dangerous. They will bite – and serious infections can be transmitted to you or your pet. Seals are mammals, as are we. They are susceptible to and can pass on nasty viruses such as herpes.
What to do if a seal approaches you?
Sit back, wait quietly and observe. Aim to stay calm and move slowly to avoid spooking the seals and provoking an aggressive response. Be confident that seals are generally gentle creatures unless they feel threatened.
What eats an orca?
Orcas are apex predators, which means they’re at the very top of the food chain and they have no predators. Killer whales are some of the largest and most powerful animals in the ocean, and no other predator is able to challenge them.
Are seals friendly to humans?
Whilst they are strong and powerful with huge teeth these are highly unlikely to be used aggressively towards you – playfully yes, but even then they can be incredibly gentle. Surprisingly, I would say that seals are pretty good at ‘reading’ your intent or body language as high level mammals.