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| Piedras Blancas |
| Elephant seals are one of California's most unique
creatures. Just north of Hearst Castle, the Piedras
Blancas rookery is a vital breeding ground for these
gigantic animals. Which of the seals we see on our
visit -- bulls, immature males, cows, or pups --
will depend on the time of year. |
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| Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Calendar |
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Breeding Season |
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Spring and Summer Molt |
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Fall Haul-out |
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| November: |
Mature males begin returning
at the end of January |
| December: |
Males continue to return; females
begin to arrive mid-month. The first births
are usually around Christmas. |
| January: |
Females continue to arrive and
give birth, the peak of births occurs in the
last half of the month. The first females
to give birth, mate, wean their pups, and
leave. |
| February: |
Births continue. The peak of
mating is around Valentine's Day. More females
leave. |
| March: |
Last adults leave. The weaned
pups teach themselves how to swim. |
| April: |
Females and juveniles return
to molt. Most weaners are gone by the end
of the month. |
| May: |
Female and juvenile molt continues.
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| June: |
Subadult males start returning
to molt. |
| July: |
Subadult and adult males molt.
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| August: |
Last male molt. |
| September - November |
Young-of-the-year, juveniles,
and subadults too young to take part in the
breeding season haul-out to rest. Younger
animals tend to haul out first. As seals approach
sexual maturity their haul-out time more closely
coincides with that of the breeding animals. |
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