California · 2005—2026
Northern elephant and harbour seals
Seals around California.
Follow public seal observations from California. Browse published records, explore the places and stories behind them, or share an encounter with the Seal Watch team.
- Total reports
- 54
- Latest observation
Public reports · newest first
Public records archive
16 January
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Explore by area
All areasThe overview shows the full California outline and enlarged coastal views for matching reports. Numbered markers represent broad named areas, never exact observation locations. Select an area to filter the archive. The Farallon Islands marker is offshore; small islands may be absent from the outline.
20 of 20 reports shown in coastal views · 8 areas
Bay Area and Point Reyes
Mapped areas North to south
Monterey Bay and Point Lobos
Mapped areas North to south
Big Sur and Cambria
Mapped areas North to south
Los Angeles coast
Mapped areas North to south
San Diego coast
Mapped areas North to south
Map: Natural Earth.
Reports over time
All datesSelect a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.
Months in 2026
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Associated Press / Godofredo A. Vásquez
Observation: Dated photographs show elephant seals resting on the beach, including a bull and a pup among adult females.