Live Beach Cam
South Beach, Piedras Blancas Rookery
North Beach, Piedras Blancas Rookery
VIEWING TIPS: Not seeing a live video stream? Try refreshing or restarting your browser. If that doesn’t work, clear your cache or browser memory.
If you are witnessing harassment of an elephant seal anywhere in the rookery or any human activity of concern on the live stream, please call State Park Dispatch: 805-927-2068. As always, thanks for checking on the seals!
Want to learn more about what you’re seeing now?
It’s the Fall Haul-Out! The youngest seals in the colony return for a rest on the rookery beaches.
You can visit the Friends of the Elephant Seal YouTube Channel to see videos about the Fall-Haul-Out in 14 languages! Choose from English, Spanish, Chinese Traditional, Chinese Simplified, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese and Russian!
AND you can learn even more about the Fall Haul-Out in this short video: The Fall Haul-Out- A Virtual Field Trip.
Want to watch the return of the weanlings in real-time? Cal Poly researchers are studying the migration paths of 10 weaned northern elephant seal pups from San Nicolas Island (Channel Islands) and Vandenberg Space Force Base. Follow their progress real-time, with live satellite updates, at the VIP Lab website. Monarch, a 6-month old female northern elephant seal, has already traveled almost 2000 miles from Central California to the Gulf of Alaska!
Planning a visit? Check What’s Happening Now to catch up arrivals and departures from the rookery beaches each month.
About The Seals
About Elephant Seals
Seals on the sand
The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world, after the southern elephant seal. Much more agile in their ocean environment, an elephant seal moves on land with considerable effort, by using its front flippers and belly. Adult males are 14 to 16 feet (4 to 5 m) in length and 4,000 to 5,000 pounds (1,400 to 2,300 kg) in weight. The females are much smaller at about 9 to 12 feet (2.5 to 4 m) in length and weigh 900 to 1,800 pounds (400 to 800 kg). Pups are 3 to 4 feet (1 m) long at birth and weigh about 70 pounds (32 kg).
What's Happening On The Beach?
Month by Month at the rookery
The number of seals at the rookery peaks three times during the year: in late January when most births have occurred, around the first of May at the peak of the juvenile/adult female molt, and in late October during the fall or juvenile haul-out. The annual cycle begins in November with the arrival of mature males at the end of the month.
Why Elephant Seals Are Awesome
Fun Facts
- Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult male (bull), which resembles an elephant’s trunk.
- Male elephant seals weigh as much as a small truck or cargo van.
- Elephant seals are shielded from extreme cold more by their blubber than by fur.
Get the Latest News & Updates
Donate
Friends of the Elephant Seal is a 501(c) (3) non- profit corporation, relying on grants, sponsorships, memberships and your donations. Your charitable contribution supports our programs.
Sign Up for E-mail Updates
Be among the first to receive updates, photos, events and more about the Piedras Blancas northern elephant seal colony. The Friends of the Elephant Seal does not share your personal information with outside advertisers or other organizations.
Follow Us
Follow Friends of the Elephant Seal on our social channels for up-to-the-minute updates and images from the rookery.
Friends of the Elephant Seal is a cooperating association with California State Parks.