Fall Haul-Out

Beginning in late August and lasting through November of each year, both male and female weaners, yearlings, juveniles, some sub-adult males plus some adult females haul out to rest on their natal beaches or close to them.

( Click on any photo to enlarge )

Although scientists have called this a resting period, the young males of all ages seem eager to spar with one another on a regular basis, probably in attempt to climb the all important hierarchal ladder. The young females, though, don't seem quite so inclined to bicker at this time of year unlike during their shoretimes earlier in the year.

Apart from a steady stream of young males sparring on land and in the shallows, you can also see females bickering and young male elephant seals engaging in shaking, tossing and crunching down on fat strands of kelp or other seaweed.

You might also be lucky enough to watch the graceful moves of the young elephant seals of both sexes twirling, rolling over, and plunging down in the waters off the small pocket beaches.

The Farallon Islands, west of San Francisco, are also a popular spot for immature elephant seals to haul out even if they weren't born there. Because these islands have steep, rocky cliffs, the young elephant seals are restricted to the small pocket beaches and surge channels.

Unfortunately for these first time visitors, their fall haul-out time coincides with the peak time for hungry great white sharks. Since young elephant seals are a favorite prey of the great white, they are seven times more likely to fall victim to the voracious appetite of these predators than California sea lions or harbor seals. ( Maybe the sharks like the blubber !? ) Whenever the fall storms and high tides cause the young elephant seals to temporarily go back into the water to change their haul-out spot, they often become a meal as the great white will eat as many as two to three youngsters in a single day.

When a threat is perceived, elephant seals, especially the large males, always quickly turn to face any potential attacker and counter attack. Sharks are known to attack their victims from the victim's blind-side, which in this case, would be the elephant seal's tail end.

When great whites hunt the large adult elephant seals, they usually take a large bite out of the strong hip muscles, located close to the tail flippers, and wait for the elephant seal to bleed to death. By striking in this location, the shark disables the elephant seal's main strength of their mobility.

This elephant seal was lucky, managing to get away with just a sizeable shark bite.

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