A Year in the Life of an Elephant Seal
Discover the fascinating world of Northern Elephant Seals with Friends of the Elephant Seal! Join veteran docent Kris Baird, who brings 12 years of frontline coastal experience to the podium, for an engaging deep dive into the annual life cycle of these massive marine mammals.
What You’ll Learn:
The Annual Cycle: Follow the remarkable journey of the elephant seal throughout the year—from dramatic winter pupping and breeding seasons to the catastrophic spring molt and their deep-ocean foraging migrations.
A Conservation Success Story: Learn how the colony at Point Piedras Blancas (just 7.7 miles north of San Simeon) grew from a single pup born in February 1992 to a thriving population of nearly 20,000 seals stretching across more than 8 miles of Central Coast shoreline.
Ocean Stewardship: Understand how to safely and respectfully view these animals in the wild while protecting the broader marine ecosystem.
About the Organization: Founded in 1997, Friends of the Elephant Seal is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to marine education, community science, and ocean stewardship along California's Central Coast. Through on-site docents, school outreach, online resources, and their San Simeon Visitor Center, they connect local and global visitors with the scientific, historic, and scenic wonders of the Piedras Blancas rookery.
