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February 15, 2007

Año Nuevo: Scavengers

Coyote

February is a crucial time for baby elephant seals.

Many of them are about 28 days old, and suddenly, their mothers up and leave them, hopefully high and dry.

They don't know how to swim. They have nothing to eat. They're plump as can be, those little seals we call weaners.

They face predators both on land and in the sea. Great white sharks and orcas patrol the waters off the point and on land, scavengers like this coyote pick off the weak and defenseless.

The weaners gather together in little groups called weaner pods, huddling for protection, shelter and companionship. They play in the rain puddles and blow bubbles in the water as they teach themselves to swim, by instinct alone.

The big male elephant seals are the beachmasters, but the coyotes are the beach cleaners. Sometimes little seals don't make it, and the coyotes are there to take care of it.

Posted by sorsha at February 15, 2007 11:01 PM