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January 19, 2007

Ele-Facts: When To Go See The Seals

When people find out that I visit Año Nuevo so often (once/week during mating and pupping season, several other times per year), the first question they inevitably ask:

When is the best time to see the elephant seals?

There are elephant seals at Año Nuevo year-round, but different ages and genders visit at different times. Most people go in the middle of summer, when very fractious seals molt their entire fur coat over a few weeks time. Let's just say, its not the elephant seal at its most photogenic.

Northern Elephant Seal Bulls Fight For Dominance Año Nuevo State Reserve

The best time of year, in my opinion, is right about now - late January to late February. Now the rookery is most active, with a variety of seals on land, all at the same time. You've got big males battling to keep their harems of females. The females are giving birth to dark little pups, and then weaning them 28 days later, leaving lots of plump, whining weaners flopping about.

Northern Elephant Seal Mother With Pup Año Nuevo State Reserve

So the next question is, what time of day should I go? Elephant seals have a think layer of blubber in order to protect themselves in the deep cold waters off of Alaska and thousands of feet underwater. On land, the seals will overheat if they exert themselves too much. You'll want to visit when it's coolest, so the earlier in the morning you get there, the better. Days with a breeze, that are cool and even drizzly, are when the seals will be most active.

Very Young Northern Elephant Seal Pup Año Nuevo State Reserve

I tend to go on weekdays - there are fewer people on the guided docent tours, but you have to beat teh school-kid fieldtrip rush, as these louder groups will often scare away much of the other wildlife on the trails like birds of prey and other little critters. Also, the smaller your group, the more likely the guides will take you close to the seals.

Posted by sorsha at January 19, 2007 4:00 PM