Pups wean, their first steps to independence

 They prepare for their first migration

Born in just the past two months, elephant seal pups at Piedras Blancas are getting ready to set out on their first migration. They are ready to launch.

Fat and sleepy

Weanling pups are easy to recognize. They are fat, even roly-poly. They were born all black, but now are countershaded, light on the belly and dark on the back. They will have that color pattern for the rest of their lives.

 

Weaning is a major transition in their lives. They go from gaining weight fast, from 75 pounds at birth to over 200 pounds in a month, to no food at all. Long fasts, periods of not eating, are a feature of elephant seal life. This is their first fast. They need their blubber to get them through to the next stage, migration.

Adult seals breeding drama

Pups congregate in groups, called pods, on the beach. They stay out of the way of the adults, who are still in the drama of breeding. Bulls trumpet and fight, females bawl. Weanlings stay out of the way and sleep.

 

As the mothers come to the end of lactation, they are at their thinnest. Their blubber has been metabolized into milk, feeding those chubby weanlings. Neither they nor the bulls have had anything to eat since they arrived on the beach.

 

Females come into estrus as they wean their pups. They are then ready to mate with the bulls. That’s when the bulls get competitive. Earlier battles were over territory. Now, they battle over breeding. 

Look for bulls raising their heads to stare at each other. One or the other will make a move, and one may back off from a fight. It’s called dominance interaction, displacement. From the viewing area, visitors can see which bull is dominant. 

If neither backs down, they’ll battle. The loser may leave the beach entirely, finding another beach to recover. Deaths are rare. Both live to fight, and breed, another day.

 

Swim School

Although the weanlings are quiet, for the next eight to 12 weeks their bodies will undergo changes that prepare them to face their lives in the open ocean. They will lose some of their blubber. They’ll finish growing teeth, so they can hunt their own food.

They venture into the surf to practice diving, swimming and holding their breath. Weaned pups learn to hold their breath around six minutes, some as long as 12 minutes. That will help them stay underwater and dive deep enough to catch food. They are on their own now.

They are more likely to be in the water at night, so early mornings and late afternoons are the best time to see them splash around and put their heads underwater to hold their breath. Most will leave the beach on their first migration by the end of April.

Watch a video on the Friends of the Elephant SealsYouTube channel.

Bachelor beaches

Few bachelor bulls have come to Hearst Memorial Beach at San Simeon Cove this year. They may have gone to other beaches, such as the north beach at the Piedras Blancas viewpoint and other points north.

State Parks tours

During this exciting season, February through March, State Parks is offering tours at the Arroyo Laguna beach. Tours are available 9 am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Tickets are $13 per person. Meet at the parking lot, 2.25 miles north of the Hearst Castle Entrance and south of the Piedras Blancas viewpoint. 

Dress for conditions, walking on uneven rocky and sandy ground, possibly muddy. Wear sturdy, close-toed shoes. Dress in warm layers. 

Bring cameras and binoculars. Call 805-776-2564 or check the website for information.

Speakers Bureau

If your organization would like to learn more about the seals Friends of the Elephant Seal offers free speakers. To arrange a speaker, call the FES office, (805) 924-1628 or request a speaker through the website/. The Speaker’s Bureau Coordinator will respond and set up a date.