As these animals mature their haulout schedule will be pushed later and later in the year until they eventually take up their rightful positions in the breeding population. For a large alpha bull during the mating season that means going for three months with out food. They can lose up to a third of their body weight while hauled out. That's not the only amazing thing the elephant seal can do. They migrate further than any other mammal in the world.
Big males can dive over a mile deep and stay under for up to two hours, both records for mammals.
They are rarely seen outside of their haulout areas, for obvious reasons. We are fortunate to be able to witness this amazing animal right here on the Central Coast. The new colony at Piedras Blancas is one of only a very few mainland haulouts, as they prefer the isolation of offshore islands. And it's certainly the only one so near to civilization, in places being less than a stone's throw from Highway One. This close proximity has created new challenges with interaction between people and elephant seals.