2017 Elephant Seal Breeding Season Update January 27, 2017

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1 217 Elephant Seal Breeding Season Update January 27, 217 (Top) Familiar Faces: a female tagged at Año Nuevo with large shark bite scar on her back returned pregnant this week to Drakes Beach. She has been seen in Point Reyes for many years. (Bottom) Male and female courting at South Beach. Photos by K. Richardson. NMFS Permit No A total of 1,74 seals were counted in this week s census, which included 98 cows and 475 pups. The seasonal highs for elephant seal counts will continue into next week as more females arrive to give birth in the park. As more females wean their pups, they will leave Point Reyes to finally eat after their month-long nursing period fast. This is the transition into the mating period, where males will start to compete more aggressively for a chance to mate with departing females. A Friendly Reminder: Beach Closures in Effect January 18 - March 15, 217 Drakes Beach has been closed to the public approximately ¼ mile southwest of the Ken Patrick Visitor Center The Fish Dock has been closed to the public from the upper gate down to the dock. These closures are necessary to protect cows and pups during their sensitive nursing period. Nursing females are protective over their young and can prove dangerous to humans. Thank you for your cooperation.

2 Dynamic Coastlines Cause Hardships For Seals High surf and strong storms last weekend and into the week caused difficulties for many pups in Point Reyes. Evidence of this can be seen in our pup count s slow growth over the past week. Turbulent seas, heavy rains, and winds can also cause landslides. Landslides are normal and important for beach formation, however, they can also reduce available beach space and create risk of crushing animals hauled out below. Large surf conditions may have forced some females and pups to haul out in unusual places. Please be aware that nursing females are aggressive when defending their pups. If you happen upon a female and pup away from a colony while in the park, remember to keep a safe distance! Do not approach the pair and report the sighting to Park Dispatch at (415) (Top)A female defends her pup. (Bottom) A large male rests below a recent landslide at Drakes Beach. Photos by K. Richardson. NMFS Permit No

3 A view of Gus Cove and Chimney Rock. A big influx of females arrived in Gus Cove a after large swells forced animals to abandon their haul outs on the ocean facing headlands. Photo by K. Richardson. NMFS Permit No

4 No. Seals TOTAL SEAL COUNT Seals 216 Seals NMFS Permit No

5 No. Females TOTAL FEMALE COUNT Females 216 Females NMFS Permit No

6 No. Pups TOTAL PUP COUNT. 7 6 Pups Pups NMFS Permit No

7 No. Weaned Pups TOTAL PUPS WEANED Weaned Pups 216 Weaned Pups NMFS Permit No

8 No. Seals DRAKES BEACH COLONY TOTAL SEALS DB Seals 216 DB Seals NMFS Permit No

9 No. Females DRAKES BEACH COLONY FEMALES DB Females 216 DB Females NMFS Permit No

10 No. Pups DB Pups 216 DB Pups NMFS Permit No

11 No. Weaned Pups DRAKES BEACH COLONY WEANED PUPS Weaned Pups 216 Weaned Pups NMFS Permit No

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