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Informational messages for the Central Coast of California
Information for San Luis Obsipo County
Informational messages for Central Coast Parks
   
     
   
   
Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas
 

Mid to late November juvenile and sub-adult elephant seals start returning to the rookery. They don't eat while here, but it is a good place to weather out the winter storms.

You'll see them laying around the beaches, females together and adolescent males together. Since they don't eat, they sleep a lot to conserve energy. The only difference I've noticed is on colder days when they sleep less and adolescent males mock battle more.
Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas
Males start arriving and establish claims to areas of the beach. These areas will continually change however as larger males arrive. A kind of pecking order is established, and as one male gets kicked out the smaller males will also move around. Of course, the harems stay with the area that's been most recently claimed.
Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas
 
   
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