The Bull Elephant Seal
The bull Elephant Seal is a massive mammal. The Southern Elephant Seal male adult can weigh more than two SUVs at up to eight thousand pounds and have an overall length of 20 feet. These behemoths reside in Antarctica. The images below are of California’s Northern Elephant Seals and can weigh a mere 4,000 pounds or one large SUV. It’s mating season currently along California’s coast and a male can have up to 50 females in his harem. They have just returned from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska where they bulked up on squid and other ocean delicacies. They have the ability to dive up to a mile below the ocean’s surface for as long as two hours. Of course, it’s obvious where they received their names.
Advertisements
Great post. Did you take them at Ano Nuevo Park?
LikeLike
January 31, 2016 at 3:52 PM
Thanks, No, these were taken at Piedras Blancas just north of San Simeon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 31, 2016 at 4:04 PM
Ah thanks for letting me know. I saw elephant seals for the first time on vacation at Christmas and just thought they were awesome! You have some great shots of them.
LikeLike
January 31, 2016 at 4:11 PM
Thanks again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 31, 2016 at 8:16 PM
They are so homely, they’re artistic in an odd way. Bravo for accomplishing that!
LikeLike
January 31, 2016 at 4:04 PM
They are not as cute as your cats though!
LikeLiked by 2 people
January 31, 2016 at 4:29 PM
Sometimes, being cute isn’t enough to excuse certain behavior … spent half the day fixing the poor cat tree – it is now attached to the wall using one of the things normally used to hang TVs on the wall.
LikeLike
January 31, 2016 at 4:46 PM
I think they would scare me to death! I expect these were taken with a very long lens? 😉
LikeLike
January 31, 2016 at 5:22 PM
They don’t move fast but they are mostly at the bottom of a bluff and can’t get to the top.
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 31, 2016 at 8:15 PM
Yow! Scary lookin’ creatures.
LikeLike
January 31, 2016 at 7:01 PM
Good thing they don’t move like Grizzly Bears. Grizzlies really scare me!
LikeLike
January 31, 2016 at 8:17 PM
Fantastic photos! You really captured the immensity and uniqueness of the elephant seals.
LikeLike
February 1, 2016 at 9:14 AM
Thanks Jet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 2, 2016 at 12:51 PM
Amazing creatures.
LikeLike
February 2, 2016 at 12:44 PM
This is probably the 8th time I’ve stopped at this place to photograph these guys! Next time I will do some video to capture the funky sounds they make.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 2, 2016 at 12:52 PM
Good for you. I would do the same thing if I was near them! I just love unusual animals. And I am so glad they are doing a better job of protecting them from traffic.
LikeLike
February 2, 2016 at 1:11 PM
Amazing creature, diving 1 mile down the ocean! Thank you for letting us see the details, Micheal.
I have missed your recently posts from my reader… 😕
LikeLike
February 4, 2016 at 10:49 AM
Your welcome Amy, not sure why you don’t see my posts on Reader.
LikeLike
February 4, 2016 at 1:33 PM