·

Marine Mammal Guide for California Beaches – Part 1

ByLisa Dworkin Hours

Marine mammals either spend most or all of their life in the water. They are mammals rather than fish because (like humans) they are warm-blooded, breath air with lungs, produce milk to feed their young, give birth to live babies rather than laying eggs, and have hair or fur.

Although it’s sometimes possible for you to get quite close to, and even touch, these animals, don’t! Why? One, they may be cute but they are still wild animals. Two, contact with humans may hurt them. Three, they are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which states that it’s illegal for people to “harass, feed, hunt, capture, collect, or kill any marine mammal or part of a marine mammal.” (marinemammalcenter.org)

Seals and Sea Lions

Many people confuse seals and sea lions or think they are the same kind of animal. They’re not. While there are a variety of minor differences between seals and sea lions, the most obvious is that seals don’t have ears. They aren’t deaf because they have a tiny opening on each side of their head, but they lack external ear flaps. Sea lions have external ear flaps. Another difference is that seals have a much harder time moving around on land. Now you know how to tell seals from sea lions!

California Sea Lions

California sea lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness, and noisy barking. As a result, they are often seen performing at zoos, theme parks, and aquariums.

Some of the places where they are commonly found include:

  • Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey
  • Pier 39 in San Francisco
  • The dock at Moss Landing in Monterey County
  • Santa Cruz Wharf and Seal Rock in Santa Cruz
  • Harford Pier in Avila Beach
  • Ano Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County
  • Mattole Recreation Area in Shelter Cove
  • Shelter Cove in Shelter Cove
  • Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel

Northern Elephant Seals

Northern elephant seals are the largest seals found along the California coast. In fact, they are the second largest seals in the world. Southern elephant seals are the largest. It is easy to see how the elephant seal got its name when you see how its nose looks like an elephant’s trunk.

Some of the places where they are commonly found include:

  • Ano Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County
  • Piedras Blancas at the southern end of Big Sur near San Simeon
  • Point Reyes National Seashore in Olema
  • Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel

Harbor Seals

Unlike California sea lions and northern elephant seals, harbor seals are “generally solitary and rarely interact with one another. An exception to this is the strong mother-pup bond maintained until the pup is weaned.” (seaworld.org)

Some of the places where they are commonly found include:

  • Children’s Pool Beach in La Jolla
  • Elkhorn Slough in Watsonville
  • Ano Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County
  • Moss Landing in Monterey County
  • Cannery Row in Monterey
  • Bolinas Lagoon in Marin County
  • Sonoma State Beach in Bodega Bay
  • Mattole Recreation Area in Shelter Cove
  • Shelter Cove in Shelter Cove
  • Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel

Sea Otters

Although otters catch their food on the sea floor, they always eat on the surface of the water using their chest as a table. They also use rocks to dislodge and crack open their food making them one of the few animals to use tools.

Some of the places where they are commonly found include:

  • Ano Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County
  • Cannery Row in Monterey
  • Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey
  • Morro Bay in Morro Bay
  • Moss Landing in Monterey County
  • Leffingwell Landing in Cambria
  • Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel

To many joyful beach experiences!

— Lisa Dworkin

California sea lion photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4nz33s9

Northern elephant seal photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4at27co

Harbor seal photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4t3uezm

Sea otter photo courtesy of http://tinyurl.com/4gx8oem

Similar Posts