Elephant Seals of San Simeon

There is a beach just north of Hearst Castle where hundreds of elephant seals come to shed their skin (we do it daily but they do it once per year) and to have their babies.  Today we saw mostly females who come from April through May with their juvenile offspring to lounge on the beach, napping for the most part although there were several youngsters playing in the waves.  Like the well-to-do in Hearst Castle, it seems the males and females sleep separately unless the males are "in the mood" according to the docent who was present on the beach to teach all of us the nuisances of being an elephant seal. The males visit this beach to molt in June and July.  The beach is important as the seals need the warmth of the sand while they are molting until their skin can regrow.   When the typically 6.600 pound and 14' long male makes his annual connection with the female colony where the ladies come off the scale at 2,000 pounds and 10' long, their dance is usually a one sided affair as the females attempt to protect their offspring laying close to them from the weight of the male.  The juveniles start off at a mere 80 pounds and are no match for the males!

The ground squirrels make good use of the shore here also, burrowing into the sand in numerous places and nibbling on the plant life found along the edge of the fence separating us from the seals.  Seals are protected after being driving almost into extinction.  Another interesting fact is that seal milk (they are mammals) consists of 50% milk fat compare to ours at 4% or cow's milk at 3.5% on average.  Their bodies are adapted to living in the sea where they can remain underwater for up to 100 minutes.  It was well worth the short drive up U.S. Hwy. 1 to see these amazing animals so close to the fence.  Just north of the beach is the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse built in 1875 which is open for tours daily except Sunday in the summer and every other day right now.  Making our way back down the coast to Morro Bay, we agree it has been a very good day and we're as happy as seals in the sand.