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      pounds). Sometimes actual bloody fights take place, resulting in the losers hauling back to sea to find
a safer beach to heal their wounds and restore their courage.
Every now and then fights break out between females who challenge each other for the spaces they hold on the beach. Pups, born within
a few days after the cow arrives, weigh about 60 pounds and grow rapidly due to the cow’s nutrient rich milk. Cows nurse their pups about 24 days, mating during the last week of nursing. After mating, she returns to the ocean, leaving her pup to learn to swim and find food. Pups are ready for their own journeys in March and April.
Back from near extinction
Hunted to near extinction for blubber and oil during the 18th and 19th centuries, these fascinat- ing animals have returned from
a population of only 50 to over 150,000. The largest population is in California with breeding colo- nies from Baja to British Columbia, four of those in California.
Elephant seals started populat- ing the beach of Northern Elephant Seal Rookery at Piedras Blancas
as early as 1990. The only other mainland colonies of elephant seals at the time were at Ano Nuevo and Point Reyes and a small inaccessible colony at Gordo.
Best viewing areas
The Piedras Blancas rookery has the largest mainland elephant seal breeding colony and the easi- est access of California’s viewing sites. The rookery covers 6 miles of shoreline. Viewing areas are located 5 miles north of Hearst Castle and 1.5 miles south of Point Piedras Blancas.
The viewing areas are open ev- ery day of the year, are wheelchair accessible, and free. No reservations required. No dogs. Docents from Friends of the Elephant Seal are on site between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Federal law protects elephant seals. No one is allowed on the beach near the seals. Use of drones or model aircraft is illegal in the rookery area.
If you happen upon elephant seals while strolling along a beach, keep a respectful distance from these seemingly sleepy, sunbath- ing animals. They can move faster than expected in spite of their size. Cows will defend their pups,
and who wants to be chased by a 5000-pound bull?
The Piedras Blancas visitor’s center is located at 250 San Simeon Avenue, San Simeon. For more in- formation about watching the seals, visit the Friends of the Elephant Seal website at elephantseal.org.
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