Still time to see a pup born
Pregnant females are still arriving at Piedras Blancas
to give birth to their pups. Most pups are born at night, but daytime births
are common. More than 5,000 pups will be born in the rookery, so you could get
lucky. If not, view a video here.
The Piedras Blancas viewpoint remains open to the
public. Wear a mask and keep social distance.
King Tides
King Tides are past for this season, but high tides
continue. High water threatens pups on the beach. They can swim, but lack the
stamina to survive in the ocean. If washed out, skinny young pups without insulating
blubber to keep them warm and buoyant can drown.
Gaining
weight
Pups start nursing within a day or so of being born.
Pups born in December are already being weaned. Look for rotund, fat pups.
Pups will nurse from any mother willing to tolerate
them. Most pups nurse, or attempt to nurse, on at least one mother other than
their own. Not every pup survives, and mothers whose pups have died may adopt
one or more strays. Some mothers are hostile to other pups and other mothers
and aggressively chase them away.
Mothers produce milk by metabolizing their blubber.
They lose two pounds for every pound the pup gains. Look for thinner mothers lying
next to fat pups.
Around 95 percent of pups at Piedras Blancas survive
to be weaned.
Breeding and competition
As pups are weaned, mothers come into estrus, heat,
like dogs. They mate before they return to the ocean.
Females in estrus spark battles between males. Most
dominance interactions are easy to observe: One bull bellows or raises his head
to challenge, and one or more others retreat.
But with breeding rights at stake, males are willing
to fight. They bump chests and rip at each other’s chest shield, the crinkled
skin around the neck, with their teeth. Battles can be bloody. Dominant males
take no notice of pups or mothers as they chase each other across the beach.
Watch as two bulls challenge each other, and their
conflict ripples through the rest of the seals. With new females arriving, pups
born, pups being weaned, mothers mating and departing, the beach is in constant
motion.
Bulls on other beaches
The bulls who lose those fights find other beaches to
heal their wounds and rest up. Hearst Memorial State Beach at San Simeon Cove
is especially popular with them. Seals have also hauled out on Moonstone Beach
and other places. Unsuspecting beachgoers don’t expect to find a two-ton wild
animal in the spot they planned to have a picnic.
Stay back from the seals, and don’t let the dog get
near. Pick up a pocket guide from one of the plastic displays and follow the
suggestions.
The seals are on the beach temporarily, during the
breeding season. The Central Coast is fortunate to share its beaches with these
iconic wildlife. People and seals can coexist.