Drakes Beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore is temporarily closed to accommodate elephant seals that have set up camp for the breeding season.
The annual ritual has brought at least 30 males to the shore in front of the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center as of Thursday, with more farther down the beach, said Earl Perez-Foust, a member of the park’s staff.
At least four pups have been born near the overlook area of the beach, Perez-Foust said. The first was spotted on Dec. 20.
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“Closures are a critical way to protect both elephant seals and the visiting public,” Perez-Foust said. “The unpredictable nature of elephant seal behavior, coupled with potential impacts to their health and well-being, means that sometimes the best way to protect wildlife and visitors is to prevent the potential interaction between the two.”
Each year, hundreds of elephant seals fan out across Marin’s beaches for the winter pupping season. But until recently, the blubbery beasts preferred the secluded south-facing pocket beaches of the Point Reyes Headlands. That changed in the 2018-2019 season, when they began expanding their claim on not-so remote locales, such as Drakes Beach.
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Males typically arrive first in the late fall and early winter to declare territory from which they’ll defend the pregnant females and their pups.
Male elephant seals, known as bulls, can weigh up to 5,000 pounds — about the same weight as a pickup truck. For the pupping season, which lasts from about December to April, the males are fasting from both food and water in order to devote all their energy to defend their harem.
As a result, bull elephant seals conserve energy by going into a deep sleep in which they might not take a breath for six to eight minutes, according to the federal park.
With Drakes Beach becoming a popular breeding ground, parks officials have enacted seasonal closures, which this season began on Dec. 15. The beach is closed until further notice. The fish dock area and the beaches around Chimney Rock and the south end of South Beach are closed until March 31.
“If elephant seals relocate away from visitor use areas, closures may be adjusted accordingly,” Perez-Foust said. “However, their behavior is unpredictable, so we will always exercise caution for the health and safety of both elephant seals and visitors.”
Perez-Foust said it’s best to check the “current conditions” webpage before visiting to get the most up-to-date information on closures.
Visitors can still watch the seals from afar from the beach parking lot and the sidewalk near the visitor center.
The southern end of Drakes Beach, below the elephant seal overlook, is closed year-round.
In the 2023-2024 breeding season, about 950 pups successfully weaned from their mothers, according to park data. That compares to 1,153, the highest on record, in 2021.
Adam Ratner, director of conservation engagement at the Marine Mammal Center in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, said the next two months are critical for the development of baby elephant seals.
Newborns weigh about 75 pounds, and during the first month of life they gain about 10 pounds a day.
“Pups, once they’re born, will be drinking a lot of milk and getting really fat to prepare for life on their own,” Ratner said.
Once pups begin to wean, they will venture off into the water for short periods learning to swim and find food.
“Any pup separated during that time can really face life-threatening issues,” Ratner said.
Each year, the nonprofit Marine Mammal Center rescues injured or ill fledgling pups. Their response is dictated by calls from the public who report ailing animals, Ratner said.
However, staff tend not go into the breeding grounds to rescue pups. Doing so would disturb an even larger group of animals, which could lead to problems for other newborns, Ratner said.
Rescued pups are typically washed up on shores of other beaches removed from their colonies, Ratner said.
Many rescued pups generally appear to have been separated during major storms, and the older, more independent ones show signs of struggling to forage on their own, Ratner said.
“The pups we rescue are around 75 to 100 pounds, when they should weigh close to 300,” Ratner said.
The rehabilitation process takes about two to four months for most of the animals before they are returned to their natural environment.
To help prevent disturbances, including separation, Ratner urges visitors to follow closures and viewing rules, recommending that people stay at least 50 yards from marine animals and use binoculars, telephoto lenses or spotting scopes to get a closer view. Dogs should be on leashes and only in areas where they are allowed.
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