Elephant seals return to Point Reyes National Seashore for breeding season

POINT REYES, Calif. (KGO) — In North Bay, a major migration is taking place into Marin County. Elephant seals return to Drake’s Beach on the Point Reyes National Seashore for breeding season and many people make the trip to see them from a safe distance.

The sound of mighty elephant seals once again staking their claim to Drake’s Beach echoes across Point Reyes for the winter breeding season, and these creatures truly have to be seen to be believed.

“It’s incredible to get so close to them, they are so big,” Ed Lamm.

Rangers say some bulls can weigh 5,000 pounds. The size of a small car. Drake Beach is now closed to the public, but you can still observe the giants from a safe distance.

“We started seeing a few big bulls in December, the females and pregnant mamas are returning. Right now we estimate about 30, with more on the way,” said the national park ranger , Earl Perez-Foust.

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“They are so amazing, comical and we were talking in the car about whether they were ugly or not. I guess there are a few cows that have come in and are going to give birth at any moment,” said Catherine Lucas of Inverness. .

Some seal pups have already been born nearby. Rangers say the elephant seal’s journey to northern California constitutes the largest marine mammal migration in the world.

“Twice a year these elephant seals migrate from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to where we are,” said park ranger Pérez-Foust. When they arrive here they are tired and looking to relax, it’s a comfortable place for them. In years past, some elephant seals have invaded the beach visitor parking lot, but now there is this fence to keep everyone safe.

“In previous years when the fence wasn’t as strong they broke it down, but now we have this new fence,” said ranger Fiona O’Kelly.

The beach car park could close when the baby seals are born on the beach, to give them space. The National Park Service advises you to check its website before coming.