Elephant Seals Año Nuevo State National Reserve
Birthing Process and Habits During the Breeding Season
For reasons unknown, elephant seals find their way to the California coast every year. This annual mating ritual draws crowds of spectators to view this incredible spectacle.According to the Park Ranger guide at the Año Nuevo State National Park, the birth cycle begins and ends during their stay at the beach.
Where the Elephant Seals Go
Año Nuevo Reserve is located about 55 miles south of San Francisco and the end of the year breeding season brings the large elephant seals from their marine wanderings to this wild, windswept coast of California. This area is particularly favorable for the birthing of new pups, and draws these gigantic mammals to play out scenes similar to that of human courting.
The Preparation
In December, the massive males or bulls are the first to arrive and they fight amongst each other in order to establish dominance. The strongest scout out and defend their prime real estate, a piece of land or dune protected from the natural elements; property where they will jealously hoard and protect their harem of females from marauding males.
The Arrival of the Females
At the end of December arriving females choose their males according to the real estate they own, looking for the best dune on which to successfully birth. They are usually around 1200 to 2000 pounds when they arrive but drop most of that weight during the nursing process as they do not eat while they are breeding. Three to six days after arriving, females give birth to a pup that was conceived the year prior.
The Nursing Period
Pups are nursed for about 28 days and due to the richness of its mother’s milk, they mushroom from about 75 pounds to approximately 300 pounds in that short time. Towards the end of the nursing period, the female mates again and soon after, abruptly abandons her offspring and heads back to sea. The process of conception once again begins for the following year.
Females verbally ward off other seals, sometimes circling her newborn in order to protect it from other seals. Males are not involved in the birthing or nursing process and have no attachment to any pups as mothers do. In fact, moving forward to fight off a trespassing male, bulls have been known to run over an unfortunate pup.
End of the Breeding Cycle
By March most of the adults have left the beaches leaving the pups to fend for themselves. They remain at the beach for another month before also heading to sea to feed. In spring and summer, the elephant seals return to the beaches to molt.
Interesting Side Notes
Nature has a wonderful way of balancing itself out. Gulls immediately flock to devour the placenta of a new born pup leaving the beach literally picked clean.
Loser's Beach is the nickname for the stretch of coastline populated by males that were not able to secure protected land. Rising tides and relentless waves are treacherous to newborns that would be washed helplessly out to sea.
Visiting Año Nuevo
From mid December through to the end of March only guided tours are available as this is the breeding season. Reservations are highly recommended for a tour during this time.
Self guided tours with a permit are allowed during the molting months.
For further information and park visitation hours, please visit the California State Parks website.
Source
Park Ranger at the Año Nuevo State National Reserve, California
Bull Sleeping on Claimed Land
|
Gulls Cleaning the After Birth
|
Losers Beach
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Science & Nature
Latest Articles