Every year, over 5,000 elephant seal pups are born at the Piedras Blancas rookery from mid-December to early February, with 90% survival rate to reach the ocean.
At birth, elephant seal pups weigh around 70 pounds and measure approximately 3 feet long. The mothers, during nursing, can lose about a third of their body weight.
As soon as a pup is born, gulls swoop around the beach to consume the afterbirth, showcasing nature's beach clean-up crew in action.
The Elephant Seal Vista Point off Highway 1 provides fantastic viewing opportunities of the elephant seals on the beach, with boardwalks and benches to enjoy the sight.
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