Surveys of numerous Native American archeological sites have been done at Piedras Blancas, and along the north coast of San Luis Obispo County from Cayucos to the Monterey countyline. 500 B.C. No historical evidence of elephant seal haulouts has been found. Apparently there were too many hungry Native Americans around. O ddly, the first elephant seal was seen on Launch Beach, the beach immediately under the lighthouse, in 1978. It was a juvenile female.
Some authorities think juvenile female elephant seals found new breeding colonies.
T he Piedras Blancas elephant seal colony has continued its relentless expansion north and south. Essentially, a 20-miles long elephant seal colony. They are not all that particular about the beaches they colonize. They don't care if a beach is used by humans. The beaches of Piedras Blancas were packed with campers, fishermen, divers, windsurfers, dogs, etc.