A pup born in January 1975 was the first known mainland birth of a northern elephant seal at Año Nuevo; 86 pups were born there in 1978. Sharing the fate of many of the oceans' great whales, the elephant seals were hunted to the brink of extinction for their oil-rich blubber.
The molting season lasts four to six weeks. The total population estimate for northern elephant seals in 1999 is … They leave the rookery in March, but return between April to August to molt. While sailing along the Pacific coast in the 1800s, a whale and seal hunter named Charles Scammon reported seeing northern elephant seals from Baja California in Mexico to Point Reyes in California.
Elephant seals are large, oceangoing earless seals in the genus Mirounga.The two species, the northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris) and the southern elephant seal (M. leonina), were both hunted to the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century, but their numbers have since recovered.. And each year, they gather on California's Central Coast for mating, birthing and molting seasons. In 1978, 872 were born there. Elephant seals spend most of their life at sea. In the 1880's northern elephant seals were thought to be extinct, harvested by shore whalers and sealers for their blubber. Today they are protected from hunting and harassment by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, is an extraordinary marine mammal. The number of seals at the rookery peaks three times during the year: in late January when most births have occurred, around the first of May at the peak of the juvenile/adult female molt, and in late October during the fall or juvenile haul-out. After unique mating rituals, each year in winter, … Northern elephant seals come ashore during the spring and summer months to shed their outer layer of skin and fur. Friends of the Elephant Seal is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about elephant seals and other marine life and teaching stewardship for the ocean off the central coast of California. The loser … More The male elephant seals can grow to 4 metres in length, and weigh around 2,300 kg. The northern elephant seal, somewhat smaller than its southern relative, ranges over the Pacific coast of the U.S., … Most females and juveniles are back in the water by the end of May.
In June, subadult and adult males arrive to begin their molt. Elephant seals: They're huge, loud and so ugly, they're cute. Starting in late December, they begin to come ashore one by one, starting with the males. These ocean giants haul out on beaches along Northern California's coast for the mating season. Question or Comment? The best viewing spots for seals are southern California and Mexico, hosting up to 150,000 elephant seals each season. Today, Año Nuevo is the largest mainland elephant seal rookery on the California coast. Protected first by Mexico and later by the United States, they have steadily expanded their range. Starting in April, females and juvenile elephant seals return to the shore to molt. Seals have a predictable schedule of breeding, molting, and birthing. The first elephant seals on Año Nuevo Island were sighted in 1955, and the first pup was born there in 1961. By mid-September, juveniles will return to shore for a resting haul out. They collect a harem of 40 to 50 females, which are much smaller than their enormous mates. November brings back mature males, who fight with each other to achieve the dominance for the breeding season. This beach is a few hours from Los Angeles. The massive male bulls arrive first. The oil obtained from elephant seals is second in quality only to the sperm whale. Molting Season. By August, the males have mostly completed with their molt. A small group of between 20-100 elephant seals that bred on Guadalupe Island, off Baja California, survived the ravages of the seal hunts.
There is an observation deck along the shore and there is even a small tree-paved trail.