Marine Mammals

What to do if you find a Marine Mammal?

If you have found a marine mammal (California Sea Lion, Northern Elephant Seal or Pacific Harbor Seal),  in need of immediate help, please click here for information.

How to Coexist with Marine Mammals

  1. Don't approach or harass marine mammals.  They are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and you could be subject to fines of up to $10,000.
  2. Don't feed fish or any other food to marine mammals.
  3. Understand that if you use chum or bait fish, you will attract marine mammals, as their natural prey is fish. After fishing, pick up used hooks and fishing line.
  4. You can also help by keeping pollutants out of the marine environment. Don't dump trash or toxic substances like oil, solvents, and other chemicals into waterways or into storm drains that lead to the ocean.

About California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)

  • Carnivore (prey includes anchovies, squids, sardines, mackerel, rock fish)
  • Habitat is shallow ocean water, rocks, and beaches
  • Males are a chocolate brown color; females are a blonde color
  • Face resembles a dog
  • Have external ear flaps
  • Adult males on average weigh up to 860 lbs., 7 ft. long
  • Adult females on average weigh up to 240 lbs., 6 ft. long
  • Southern California breeding occurs mainly on Channel Islands in June
  • Adult females give birth to one pup in late June
  • Pups usually weaned six months-one year
  • Males migrate to the Pacific Northwest after breeding; females stay around rookeries year-round
  • Female distribution/range is from Baja, California to Northern California
  • Communicate with noisy, honking barks
  • Sharks are the sea lion's natural predator in Southern California

California Sea Lion Facts

  • Frequent Visitor To Marinas And Docks-Colonies Of Sea Lions Have Been Known To Sink Boats And Small Docks
  • Sea Lions Often Approach Commercial Fishing Vessels, Following Their Prey That Has Been Caught In Fishing Lines And Nets; This Can Lead To Hook And Fishing Line Entanglement Injuries
  • Sea Lions Are Common Victims Of Gun Shot Wounds And Blunt Trauma

About Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris)

  • Carnivore (prey includes squid, octopus, and fish in very deep water)
  • Habitat is open ocean
  • Average dives are at a depth of 2,000 feet for 20 minutes
  • Longest recorded dive by an adult female lasted 2 hours
  • Deepest recorded depth by an adult male was 5,141 ft.
  • Adult males on average weigh 4,400 lbs., 14 ft. long
  • Adult females on average weigh 1,300 lbs., 10 ft. long
  • Males develop a large, inflatable nose that can be up to one foot long
  • Mainly ocean-dwelling animals, only hauling-out to breed and molt
  • Undergo a "catastrophic molt" once a year; they lose all hair and their top layer of skin
  • During their molt, they have to stay on the beach and don't eat for up to two weeks
  • Coat color is light brown before molt, dark brown right after molt
  • Nearest rookery in Southern California is on the Channel Islands
  • One pup is born to females in late December or early January
  • Males establish territories for breeding in December, females arrive shortly after

Northern Elephant Seal Facts

  • Elephant Seals were hunted almost to extinction by humans for their blubber in the 1880s; only a few dozen survived
  • The population is now over 150,000 due in part to the Marine Mammal Protection Act
  • Northern elephant seal skin disease most often affects elephant seals during their annual molt; the lesions from the disease can make them susceptible to bacterial and parasitic infections. The exact cause of the skin disease is unknown, but it is suspected that high levels of toxins (from chemical run-offs like PCBs) in their blubber may be the cause

About Pacific Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina)

  • Carnivore (prey includes fish, crustaceans, octopus, and squid)
  • Habitat is shallow ocean water, sandy and pebble beaches, intertidal rocks and sandbars
  • Coat color varies from black with white spots to white with black spots
  • Do not have external ear flaps, but do have ear holes
  • Adult males on average weigh 370 lbs, 6 ft long
  • Adult females on average weigh 290 lbs, 5 ft long
  • Mate in the water in August
  • One pup born in April-May
  • Mothers leave their pups on the beach while they forage for food
  • Adults are typically not vocal, but may make grunting and snorting sounds to communicate
  • Newborn pups vocalize with a repeated "maa" sound and growling noises
  • Playful in the water; shy but curious
  • Harbor Seal pups' natural predators in Southern California are coyotes, foxes and raptors

Pacific Harbor Seal Facts

  • Harbor Seals are very afraid of humans and will abandon favorite haul-out sites and/or pups due to human presence
  • Pups waiting for their mother on the beach are often thought to be orphaned and are then disturbed by well-meaning humans