. Elephant Seals Return to State Parks on California Coast Females are receptive to mating around when the pups are weaned and mating occurs in the water. Ninety percent of the young are born in June. Blubber doesn't have many nerve endings, so rotund seals make excellent research subjects because scientists can easily take small samples for contaminant analysis without causing too much trouble for the animal. For example, in Alaska, vessel traffic can displace seals from ice floes, putting pups at risk from increased time spent in cold water and separation from their mothers. Chemical contaminants, Terrestrial predators such as coyotes and bobcats can also occasionally prey on harbor seals resting onshore, particularly pups that are very young. Some seals also migrate annually up to 800 km (500 miles) during the winter months to other foraging areas, and then return to Point Reyes to breed and molt their fur. (This drivewayis closed to privately-owned vehicles.) JC: That's Erin Flynn. Mitochondrial DNA sequences in 2009 have identified five distinct California sea lion populations: the US or Pacific Temperate stock, the Western Baja California or Pacific Tropical stock, and the Southern, Central, and Northern Gulf of California stocks. They are commonly seen resting on rocks and beaches along the coast and on floating ice in glacial fjords with their head and rear flippers elevated in a "banana-like" position. Is that a seal or a sea lion? Rarely, male elephant seals have been documented killing harbor seals in California at harbor seal colonies such as Jenner. Non-breeding individuals may gather at marinas, wharves, or even navigational buoys. . Harbor seals are within the Order Carnivora, which means that they primarily eat meat. Incidental Take Authorization: Attentive Energy LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off New Jersey and New York (2023), Incidental Take Authorization: Chevron Products Company Long Wharf Maintenance and Efficiency Program in San Francisco Bay, CA, Incidental Take Authorization: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC's Site Characterization Surveys off New Jersey and New York (2023), Incidental Take Authorization: Bureau of Land Management Stabilization of the Punta Gorda Lighthouse Project in Humboldt County, California (Phase 2). The color of each seals fur varies but there are two basic patterns: light tan, silver, or blue-gray with dark speckling or spots, and a dark background with light rings. In the fall the juveniles return for a pre-breeding season haul out. JC: That's Denise Gregg. The US stock breeds mainly in the Channel Islands, although some breeding sites may be established in northern California, and females are now commonly found there. Double Point and the western end of Limantour Spit are closed to all visitor access. Send California 30 days of rain, and there's not much they can do. Numerous organizations around the country are trained and ready to respond. Contact a park ranger and give the exact location and a description of the animal, making note of its behavior, color, size (length and girth), and any particular markings or tags. Females, may reach up to 6 and a half feet in length and weigh up to 240 pounds. In the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and western North Atlantic, NOAA Fisheries scientists and their collaborators track location data from satellite tags deployed on harbor seals to determine their movement and distribution, as well as their diving and haul-out behavior. Contaminants enter ocean waters from many sources, including oil and gas development, wastewater discharges, agricultural and urban runoff, and other industrial processes. DG: You know, the study is to look at animals in San Francisco Bay during their first year, 'cause that's when survival is toughest for these animals. The total population of California sea lions is therefore around 355,000 individuals. During the breeding season, sea lions gather on both sandy and rocky shores. It's up to us and future generations to educate ourselves about the obstacles they face, so we can help ensure their continued survival. Individual elephant seals return to Point Reyes for the molting season in the summer and fall. Newborn pups are about two and one half feet in length and weigh in from 13 to 20 pounds. Where to see Sea Lions & Seals on the Pacific Coast Highway Harbor seal pups can swim at birth. According to the National Park Service, the Channel Islands are home to four different kinds of seals and sea lions: harbor seals, northern elephant seals, northern fur seals, and California sea lions. Gregg also study seals in Tomales Bay at Point Reyes National Seashore that haven't been exposed to such high levels of contaminants. In the United States, NOAA Fisheries has identified 16 stocks of harbor seals. Males of some sea lion species even grow thick manes around their necks. So, that describes our position on the food chain or, in scientist's terminology, our trophic level. Pups are born with a thick brownish black lanugo that is generally molted by the end of the first month.The succeeding light brown juvenile coat is shed 4 to 5 months later, and as adult males age, the hair around their heads lightens to a light tan is replaced by adult coloration. Studies of Harbor Seals Using Glacial Ice in Disenchantment Bay, Alaska, 2016-2017, Integrating Local Traditional Knowledge and Subsistence Use Patterns with Aerial Surveys to Improve Scientific and Local Understanding of the Iliamna Lake Seals, Natural and Human Effects on Harbor Seal Abundance and Spatial Distribution in an Alaskan Glacial Fjord, Studying At-Risk Harbor Seals in Western Aleutians - Post 5, Studying At-Risk Harbor Seals in Western Aleutians - Post 4, Studying At-Risk Harbor Seals in Western Aleutians - Post 3, Copper River Delta Carcass Surveys - Final Reports, Cook Inlet & Kodiak Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines and Appendices, Scientific Evaluation of the Distinctness of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) in Iliamna Lake, Incidental Takes and Interactions of Marine Mammals and Birds in Districts 6, 7 and 8 of the Southeast Alaska Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery, 2012 and 2013, Harbor Seals Pupping Timeframes Along the West Coast, Fine Scale Structure of Harbor Seals in Alaska, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal, Climate, Ecosystems & Fisheries Initiative, Learn more about our conservation efforts, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement field office, NOAA's Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program, Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program, Marine Mammal Oil Spill Response Guidelines, ongoing Harbor Seal Unusual Mortality Event, Alaska Harbor Seal Approach Guidelines in Glacial Fjords, 90-day Finding on a Petition to List Pacific Harbor Seals, 2020 Center for Biological Diversity Petition to List Iliamna Lake Seal (PDF, 7, Harbor Seals in Iliamna Lake Information and Research, Notice of Proposed and/or Continuing Information Collections - Federal Register Notices, Registration as an Agent or Tanner (85 FR 25402, 05/01/2020), Determination on Whether To List the Harbor Seals in Iliamna Lake, Alaska as a Threatened or Endangered Species, Not Warranted Notice (81 FR 81074, 11/17/2016), Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period (78 FR 34309, 06/07/2013), 90-Day Finding and Solicitation of Public Comments (78 FR 29098, 05//17/2013), 2020 90-Day Finding and 2020 Center for Biological Diversity Petition, 2012 Center for Biological Diversity Petition to List Iliamna Lake Seal (PDF, 8, Scientific Evaluation of the Distinctness of Harbor Seals in Iliamna Lake, Cook Inlet and Kodiak Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines, Notice of Availability (84 FR 24102, 05/24/2019), Incidental Take Authorization: Chevron Products Company Long Wharf Maintenance and Efficiency Program in San Francisco Bay, CA (2023), Report a Stranding or an Injured Marine Mammal, Alaska Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines and Regulations, Marine Mammal Permits and Authorizations (scientific research, photography, inc, Minimizing human interactions and associated injury and mortality through various public outreach efforts, Reducing vessel collisions and disturbance through educational materials, Overseeing marine mammal health and stranding response, Implementing oil spill response plans in the event of a spill, Monitoring population abundance and distribution, Strive to maintain 500 yards from seals without compromising safe navigation, Make an approach plan to avoid surprising seals, Be equally as cautious to reduce disturbance when departing the fjord as arriving, Minimize wake, avoid abrupt changes in course or engine pitch, and avoid loud noises (such as collisions with ice) near seals, Try to avoid traveling through thick ice, as the absence of seals on the ice does not mean the area is not being used, Time visits when feasible to minimize overlap with the peak numbers of seals hauled out midday and minimize the chances of disturbance. March through July, the pupping and molting seasons, is an especially vulnerable time for harbor seals. Be responsible when viewing marine life in the wild. Point Reyes National Seashore is one of the few places in California where you can see Mirounga angustirotris, the northern elephant seal. Select colonies at Point Reyes have been monitored since 1976, and have increased as the population has recovered with protection provided by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Twelve of these stocks are in Alaska, and the other 4 are the California, Oregon-Washington coastal, Washington inland waters, and the western North Atlantic stocks. She's studying the effects of contaminants on harbor seals. Where the lives of humans and seals intersect is certainly a fascinating part of the research for Gregg but equally as captivating are the lives of these commonly seen but still mysterious animals in Tomales Bay. On the East Coast, harbor seals are found from the Canadian Arctic to the Mid-Atlantic. Even on a leash, dogs may threaten seals by barking, so please refrain from taking your pets to areas where seals may be present. On warm days, they lie closer to the water. California sea lions may eat alone or in small to large groups, depending on the amount of food available. Mature adult males have a raised forehead called the sagittal crest which increases to about an inch and a half at ten years of age. To reduce the risk of a spill, Washingtons Department of Ecology created the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program. Vessel collisions, The stocks of the Gulf of California live in the shallow waters of the north (Northern stock), the tidal islands near the center (Central stock), and the mouth of the bay (Southern stock). Avoid areas closed to visitors during the pupping season, from March 1 through June 30. Scientific research indicated that previous marine mammal approach measures (voluntary guidelines to avoid approaching within 100 yards) were not adequately protecting harbor seals from disturbance in Alaskas glacial fjords. While young elephant seals are a uniform gray, harbor seals are typically silver, white or gray, with black spots, although some harbor seals also are black or brown with white spots. The data that they gather help scientists follow trends in the population, assess their health, identify disturbances to the harbor seals and protect, and preserve this valuable resource. California sea lions are among the most gregarious marine mammals, forming dense aggregations of a thousand or more animals on land. Scientists observe harbor seals to record their numbers and distribution. Sometimes when they see a person walking on the shore or kayaking, they follow at a distance of as close as 1545 meters (50150 feet) in the bays and estuaries of the park. . Pups weigh around 11 kg (25 lbs) at birth but when they are weaned they may weigh as much as 22 kg (50 lbs). At San Simeon State Beach they are expecting about 18,000 elephant seals to crowd the four mile stretch of beach. West Coast, 90-day finding on a petition to list the Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) in Iliamna Lake as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to designate critical habitat. This research builds on studies since 2002 on ice-associated harbor seals in Disenchantment Bay which have focused on proximate effects such as when, where, and at what distances vessels were causing a disturbance. When you walk along a trail overlooking the numerous pocket beaches of Point Reyes, you may catch a glimpse of shy harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Harbor seals are part of the true seal family. State-financed bounty hunters once hunted harbor seals in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Maine because they were considered competitors of fishermen. We work with volunteer networks in all coastal states to respond to marine mammal strandings including all pinnipeds. Erin Flynn: Theyre doing the work-up right now. Adult females and juveniles are uniformly tan. Armed with this research, scientists might be able to someday better understand how those chemicals in the water affect not only sea life, but also us. Each step along the way creates high contaminant concentrations. Apex predators are often used as an indication of the condition of their ecosystem because they can't do well unless all of the organisms within their habitat are doing well. Even more information can be found on Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center's Harbor Seals web pages. They can also dive for up to 2 minutes when they are only 2 to 3 days old and by the end of their first month of life embark on journeys of over 100 miles from their natal area. Harbor seals, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Volunteers monitor the population of harbor seals in spring and summer. The Bristol Bay stock in Alaska includes a small population of, freshwater harbor seals that live in Iliamna lake. While females usually give birth during the spring and summer, the pupping season varies by location. The actual Elephant Seal Overlook Trail is mostly flat and about 4 feet wide (1.2 meters wide) with a crushed rock surface. For these reasons, NOAA developed the Alaska Harbor Seal Approach Guidelines in Glacial Fjords. Where to See Sea Lions in California - American Oceans Great Seal of California - Wikipedia Southern California Harbor Seals - ReefNews This flight disrupts their resting, can cause mother-pup separations and may endanger their health. While most of the 12 harbor seal stocks in Alaska are stable or increasing over the past 8 years, seals in the Aleutian Islands, Glacier Bay, and Icy Strait regions have likely declined. I'm John Cannon. In the United States, NOAA Fisheries has identified 16 stocks of harbor seals. On most males, especially darker individuals, the crest and a corresponding area on the muzzle and around the eyes lighten with age. They can become entangled in many different fishing gear types, including gillnets, trawls, purse seines, or weirs. The harbor seal is considered an "apex predator" because it feeds towards the top of the food chain. Harbor seals are vulnerable to vessel collisions throughout their range, but the risk is much higher in some coastal areas with heavy vessel traffic. If you see the seals raise their heads in a startle response, immediately back away so that they do not feel threatened. Sea lions have external ear flaps. JH: So [unintelligible] 15 feet or so deep, um, so it gets set around, presumably creating a curtain around the seals. During the breeding season, sea lions gather on both sandy and rocky shores. New England/Mid-Atlantic, The mother harbor seal stays with the pup almost continuously and rarely leaves the pup alone onshore. See and hear key differences between these marine mammals, and characteristics that make each unique. The total population of California sea lions is therefore around 355,000 individuals. However, many males do not darken completely, remaining sandy brown on the sides, belly, and rear quarters. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 provides federal protection not only to harbor seals, but also to northern elephant seals, California and Steller sea lions, whales, porpoises, sea otters and other marine mammals. There is concern that chronic disturbances could reduce body mass of pups at weaning and survival, and ultimately impact population stability. Pups weigh about 24 pounds at birth and are ready to swim within minutes. Oil spills and energy exploration, Staggering populations of over 70,000 California sea lions, 5,000 northern fur seals, 50,000 northern elephant seals and 1,100 harbor seals breed and pup on the island each year. On a foggy morning, Jim Harvey, a scientist at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, gives instructions to the biologists, veterinarians, and volunteers who have come to lend a hand. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Katie Dever, Two biologists with the NOAA Alaska Region, Kim Raum-Suryan and Sadie Wright, measure a Steller sea lion carcass during a carcass survey of the Copper River Delta. Increased vessel traffic can also cause altered behavior, increased energetic expenditures, and increased exposure to stress. Instead, they haul out at harbor seal colonies. So, it's really exciting to have a chance to work out here in the park. In a way, we are predator of fish and crabs. The population in Mexico occupies both side of the Baja California Peninsula: the west coast has an estimated population of 75,000 87,000, whereas the Gulf of California population is near 30,000. The list of beaches with seals in California: La Jolla Cove Beach Drakes Beach Children's Pool Beach This sound often scares off other bulls, but a chase may ensue to drive the interloper off the beach. Like adults, seal pups haul out to rest and regulate their body temperature. Visit our Multimedia Presentations: The Natural Laboratory page for additional videos and podcasts. Based. To reach the Elephant Seal Overlook, park in the Chimney Rock Trailhead parking lot and follow the path/driveway from the parking lot northeast toward the bay as it descends about 50 feet (15 meters) over a distance of about 500 feet (150 meters). Along the West Coast, stocks are stable or unknown and the population in New England appears to be stable. Harbor seals have short, dog-like snouts. Visitor entry into this area of the park is restricted year-round. The harbor (or harbour) seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere.The most widely distributed species of pinniped (walruses, eared seals, and true seals), they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas. No, consider this. 1, 7, Range The trained "seals" in zoos and aquariums are usually California sea lions. Two of these The Natural Laboratory multimedia products focused on harbor seals. Learn who you should contact when you encounter a stranded or injured marine animal. Our work includes: Learn aboutSeal Ecology and Assessment Research in the Northwest Atlantic. Their long history of self-regulation coupled with a rich oral tradition and day-to-day contact with Alaska harbor seals gives them special insights into and knowledge of this important marine mammal. Recently Updated Geo-coordinates: 38.0276, -122.9618, Drakes Beach In recent years, elephant seals are accessing Drakes Beach for the breeding and pupping season. Shes an AmeriCorps volunteer with the National Park Service. The meat they eat is fish in the nearshore waters of the park, such as herring, anchovies, sardines, hake, flounder, sole, salmon and sculpin. Individuals spend only a few weeks each year on shore, but there are elephant seals on the Point Reyes beaches throughout the year. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone in the United States. Geo-coordinates: 37.9974, -122.9822, South Beach Overlook at Point Reyes It's a short walk from the Lighthouse parking lot to the overlook to see the South Beach colony. The peak season to see elephant seals breeding and pupping is in the the winter and spring. If you see a lone pup, do not touch, move or otherwise disturb it. Northern elephant seals lose less heat than harbor seals because are much larger and have a thicker blubber layer that allows them to stay at sea for months at a time before coming onshore to rest and give birth. When establishing a territory, the males will try to increase their chances of reproducing by staying on the rookery for as long as possible. As a species, they've done fairly well in most places, managing to adapt to living in undisturbed areas near humans. California sea lions feed on a wide variety of seafood, mainly squid and fish, and sometimes clams. From 2007 to 2012, Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center Science Communication Interns produced a series of podcasts, videos, and audio-slide shows exploring science from Bay Area national parks. Point Reyes has the largest population of harbor seals in California, excluding the Channel Islands, with twenty percent of state's harbor seals living or breeding within the park's boundaries. Harbor Seal Pup When you walk along a trail overlooking the numerous pocket beaches of Point Reyes, you may catch a glimpse of shy harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina ). When seals and other pinnipeds haul out, they are extremely vulnerable to human disturbance. They also lack external ear flaps and instead have a small hole (opening to the ear canal) on either side of their head. Therefore, elephant seals can be seen year round. Each stock has experienced different population trends over the past 30 years. They cannot maintain their body temperature if they stay in cold water all the time because of their smaller size and thinner blubber layer. California sea lions breed gregariously between May and August, when they arrive at their breeding rookeries. These seals also haul out in groups to avoid predators and spend less time being watchful for predators than those that haul out alone. The stocks of the Gulf of California live in . The harbor seals diet consists mainly of fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Harbor seals give birth between March and June on tidal sandbars, rocky reefs and pocket beaches. But a hazard lurks beneath the surface, a danger that's far more sinister than even the great white sharks that patrol these waters. Shortly after the pups are weaned, the seals begin their annual molt of their sea worn fur. Baby Seal, California At this state natural reserve, the sound of barking sea lions carries over rocky headlands and echoes in secluded inlets. Targeted management actions taken to secure protections for these seals include: Our research projects have discovered new aspects of harbor seal biology, behavior, and ecology and have helped us better understand the challenges that all harbor seals face. Our scientists collect information on population size, trends, and human-caused mortality and present these data in annual stock assessment reports. Learn more about our estimates for population size in our stock assessment reports. Southern California Harbor Seals. During the breeding season, male seals hold territories in the waters adjacent to where females haul out on shore, called maritory. Male seals will protect their maritory from other males and engage in stylized fighting during the breeding season. Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Inadvertent vessel collisions can injure or kill harbor seals. Harbor seals mate in the water. They also eat invertebrates such as octopus and squid and even crabs. This law prohibits killing or harassing these shy creatures in any manner. Binoculars are recommended. In the long run, these contaminants have the potential to do a lot of damage to harbor seals and to other species, like us.