This is so cool!
The only Elephant seal I have seen in Washington was just a few miles from you on Protection Island. And about as north as the get from what I have heard.
Yeah for R and R!!
aye,aye,oh,oh! Thank goodness for the third photo! I was SO upset when I first came over. Okay, now this is a great post. I love it. I did know they have this molt but I'd never seen it and didn't realize they look dead to the world while going through it. Cool post, Robin. This was my excitement for the night- now I'm off to bed. Oh- you know what is nice? Imagining this guy's shiny new coat a few weeks from now.
Super cool! I, too, have never seen an Elephant Seal. Funny story . . . Greg and I had our first real date going out to see the Elephant Seals . . . we never saw them!
I had no idea about the catastrophic molt. That's amazing. Ruthie learned about Elephant Seals and did go out to Aņo Nuevo and saw them with her 2nd grade class. I gotta give her teacher, Mrs. Jackson, props -- Ruthie delivered as good a lecture on the breeding practices of Elephant Seals as you can imagine. It was fantastic. She delivered it at the dinner table at my in-laws. Thankfully, they are not stuffy in-laws and thought it was delightful as she expounded on the harem and how the bulls would fight for the privilege of mating with all the females in the harem.
I'll have to ask her about the catastrophic molt!
I've learned something new for the day!
What a great "first call" -- and that it turned out to be something nice and not something sad. As vicki has mentioned, when I saw that top photo, I thought it was going to be a not-so-nice event. I didn't know anything about catastrophic molts in elephant seals so I would have thought the animal was injured or seriously ill. They must be highly vulnerable during this time. Are there any other creatures (apart from humans) that might attack them while they're going through their molt?
Bev already asked my main question about the vulnerability of the seal at molting time. I, too, learned something new here. Thanks!
We saw a colony of elephants seals right off of Highway 1 down near San Luis Obispo last year. What an amazing sight! I could be a great place to take a youngster to learn about the 'birds and bees!'
That's great. Thanks
E
Wow! Great story. I love to learn about the natural cycles of animals and I didn't know elephant seals at all. Isn't it amazing how the body develops cycles to assist in survival? Thank you for taking us along on your trip.
I've seen hundreds of them on a beach near Cambria. Hundreds of elephant seals are really stinky!
Your little guy doesn't look well at all. I can see how people would think that this "catastrophic molt" thing would mean that the seal was sick or even dying.
Huh. Imagine them asking you guys to go take pictures.
I have never heard that about seals. You would think with all the nature shows they would have told that tale...
Very cool, hope that seal comes through.
you guys is teaching me new stuff ever' day! I had no idea these creatures did that. I'd worry about dogs hassling them on the beach. What a vulnerable time for these animals.
great photos - great story.
That's amazing. I did not know a thing about the catastrophic molt. It's great that you are able to be there to see it happen. The elephant seal looked pretty sick to me, too, so it's good you did your research.
Like KathyR, N and I have seem many of these as well on a San Simeon beach near Cambria. It reminds me of when we used to live in L.A. and visit there on weekends. Great post, I never knew that either about elephant seals.
What a story! I'm so glad I read through, too-I was scared when I saw the first picture. Such a life you live!
Dawn-- It was quite thrilling to see it. I'd really like to see an adult male elephant seal sometime.
vicki-- I was so glad that this creature was well, and just going through its yearly weird molt. Nature is quite strange, isn't it?
Liza-- How interesting that you and Greg went to Ano Nuevo, but never saw the seals. We often thought about going, but just never made it. I'd love to hear what Ruthie has to say about the molt.
Pablo-- That's exactly how I felt about it. Who would have ever guessed at such a wild thing occurring like this?
Bev-- I just did some online research and could not find anything that specifically talks about the seal's vulnerability while molting. Elephant seals are not passive creatures, and they are quite willing to defend themselves. I would think that they could be somewhat vulnerable to dogs and coyotes, though. I'll continue to research it to see what I can find.
mojoman-- Springtime is definitely birds and bees time! I think it would be great for kids to see elephant seals during mating season. Although there's a lot of territorial fighting among the males, it still would be a fantastic lesson.
whisker-- Glad you liked it.
peacechick mary-- Quite an interesting evolutionary development. Not one that I would particularly like, but it works out for these creatures. We felt very lucky to see an elephant seal on our first outing.
kathyr-- I could easily see why people thought this animal looked injured. Even though I knew what to look for, it still looked injured to me. I find such a molt to be a very strange adaptation, but nature works in mysterious ways!
I was so glad to get out there with the camera. Roger took the seal face close-up. What a cutie.
sbgypsy-- Even after living on the California coast for so many years, I had never heard of this catastrophic molt before. Quite an astonishing thing to consider. I hope this little one makes it too.
tara-- Have you ever gone to Ano Nuevo? I wonder if they talk about the molt there? It really was quite an opportunity. We were pretty grateful that we were able to go.
john-- I am so glad that we could share this story and the surprising info about the molt. I always think this is the best use of the internet.
rcwbiologist-- I can't believe, after all the time Roger and I spent on the California coast, that we didn't go to Cambria or Ano Nuevo. I think we may have to head down there just to take a look at these creatures. I would love to see a large thriving colony.
yankeetransferred-- It's great to have the time to take a good look around at the natural world.
Seems like everytime I get caught up in the world around me, you open the door to a different one just to "ground" me!
Thank you!
alan
Fascinating, and great photos. We've watched some nature programs that showed elephant seals, and of course they filmed them when the big males were aggressive at mating time. Amazing schnozzolas on those guys! This young one you've observed looks sort of sweet...
The elephant seals at Ano Nuevo are a sight to behold, providing you can withstand the aroma. 
How cool.
Amazing experience. Yes, I've seen the colony of elephant seals near Cambria as well - but not molting. And, as others have said, if I'd seen this catastrophic molt without knowledge, I would assume the worst. Which once again shows how we, as humans, project our values and thoughts without understanding.
I had no idea they did this type of molt either!
Thanks for the lesson. What a neat experince for you.
Very cool! Hope it stays safe while it sheds.
An atta boy and an atta girl goes out to you folks. That's awesome what you are doing and how you handled the situation. I even got to learn something also. Keep up the good work!
cool. Now I know what was going on with that seal we saw at Waddell in late March. We thought it was dead, naturally, but the next morning, it was gone.
Since we don't have elephant seals down here, you have just taught me a bunch about the animals. Thank you so much.
The Marine Mammal Stranding project sounds really cool. If my partner and I ever relocate to the Pacific Northwest (as we eventually plan to do) this sounds like something interesting to become involved in.
I'll add my voice to the ranks of folks who have never heard of catastrophic molting in elephant seals. I love the blogosphere!
We saw a large number of these amazing animals just north of san simeon during december. the males were fighting over the girls, and one or two were actually a little bloody! they were loud, boisterous, and aggressive, fascinating to watch. thanks for telling us about the molt - it would have been scary to encounter it without knowing.
"During this time their breathing is irregular, eyes weep, noses run, and the skin looks horrible. This is normal."
My post got cut off. I wondered, "Normal according to *whom*?"
It seems to me that the catastrophic molt is aptly named.
amazing, i never knew about this molting, or else i forgot it. another reminder of how rich the world is.
Alright, if I say "cool" am I just being redundant? Got to see Southern Elephant Seals up close and personal at Aitcho Island. Pretty amazing animals. I often say that Leah and I are the Elphant Seals of Arctic Bay because of our size differential.
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