USA: Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery

Piedras Blancas Rookery

Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, resting and warming after long migrations. A boardwalk and lookout areas have been built to protect the seals and their habitat, and to protect overly curious humans from danger. The Piedras Blancas Lighthouse is seen in the distance.

Northern Elephant Seal

Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, basking in the sun at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along California's central coast.

Northern Elephant Seals

Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, huddled to warm themselves from a cold wintry ocean at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery located along the central coast of California.

Northern Elephant Seal

Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, resting on the warm shores of Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along the central coast of California.

Northern Elephant Seal

The charismatic face of a Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, lying on the sandy shore at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in central California.

Northern Elephant Seal

Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, sleeping on the beach at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along California's central coast.

Northern Elephant Seal

Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, vocalizing his dominance at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along the central coast of California.

Northern Elephant Seals

Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along the central coast of California.

Northern Elephant Seal

Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along the central coast of California.

Northern Elephant Seals

Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, slumbering aand warming along the central coast of California at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.

Northern Elephant Seals

Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, enjoying some rest at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along the central coast of California.

Northern Elephant Seals

Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, vocalizing for dominance at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along the central coast of California. Males establish dominance to determine who does the majority of the mating in a harem. The first phase is a distinctive low-frequency, guttural vocalization. The dominance battle can progress to a bloody physical attack.

Northern Elephant Seal

Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, enjoying some rest at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along the central coast of California. Northern elephant seals make two migrations each year that may be thousands of miles each. They come ashore at places like the rookery to rest, mate, birth and molt.

Northern Elephant Seals

Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, vying for dominance at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, located along the central coast of California. Males establish dominance to determine who does the majority of the mating in a harem. The first phase is a distinctive low-frequency, guttural vocalization. The dominance battle can progress to a bloody physical attack.