Elephant seal breeding season begins in Ano Nuevo around December when the first males arrive. Slinking in from the sea, the move slow and methodically with a purpose. The crowd of humans is kept on the hill vista above the beach and isn't allowed to wander near for safety reasons--one of these creatures feeling threatened could easily smash a human and crush him with little or no effort. From fourteen to sixteen feet long and weighing up to 2 1/2 tons, these huge bulls engage in violent battles to establish dominance. The successful bulls do much of the breeding, with most of the duty falling on the "alpha" bull at the top of the social stratus. If their seemingly violent behavior doesn't provide enough indication of the danger for humans, then just watch for a while. You'll figure it out that you can see plenty of action from the hill above, which is generally considered safe, though they can climb hills and chase.
1,950 elephant seal pups were born at Piedras Blancas in one year, and the
total population was previously calculated at around 8,000 part-time residents
to this beach. While the total population of a rookery
is difficult to estimate since all members are never present at the same
time, researchers multiply the number of pups born times 3.5-4.5 to get
an approximation.
When visiting, look for Friends of the Elephant Seal, or drop by the office nearby at Plaza del Cavalier, 250 San Simeon Ave. Suite 3B, San Simeon, CA 93452