December

Adult male elephant seals weighing 3500 to 5000 pounds (1600 to 2300 kg) begin arriving late in November and will continue to arrive through much of December for the birthing and breeding season. Elephant seals birth and mate in harems. Only the strongest and most aggressive males will reach the rank of alpha, or harem master.

Through threat, intimidation and fights, alpha males establish control over portions of the beach. Their battles may be bloody but are almost never fatal. Harems commonly have 20 to 50 females. The size of the harem depends on the ability of the harem master to defend his territory against neighboring alphas. The loud, hollow, resonant call, unique to each male, is their most reliable way to recognize rivals they have interacted with. Lesser males establish a hierarchy, and the strongest of them may act as lieutenants for the alpha males.

As the pregnant females arrive in December, they choose beach areas that are safe places to raise pups. They will depend on the harem master to protect them from males that might sneak in and disrupt the mothers and pups. As the beach becomes crowded, females will compete for mom/pup space. There will be some new pups on the beach by mid-December.