seal.watch / california

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.

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Total reports
54
Latest observation

Public reports · newest first

Public records archive

3 June—23 August

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6 of 54 reports

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Explore by area

All areas

The 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 detail viewMonterey Bay and Point Lobos detail viewBig Sur and Cambria detail viewLos Angeles coast detail viewSan Diego coast detail view
Outlined areas show the coastal views below.

Bay Area and Point Reyes

Point Reyes · 2 reports1Año Nuevo · 1 report2
Mapped areas North to south
  1. Point Reyes2 reports
  2. Año Nuevo1 report

Monterey Bay and Point Lobos

Monterey Bay · 6 reports3
Mapped areas North to south
  1. Monterey Bay6 reports

Big Sur and Cambria

San Simeon · 3 reports4Point Buchon · 1 report5
Mapped areas North to south
  1. San Simeon3 reports
  2. Point Buchon1 report

Los Angeles coast

Malibu · 1 report6Los Angeles coast · 1 report7
Mapped areas North to south
  1. Malibu1 report
  2. Los Angeles coast1 report

San Diego coast

La Jolla · 5 reports8
Mapped areas North to south
  1. La Jolla5 reports

Map: Natural Earth.

Reports over time

All dates

Select a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.

  1. 12017
  2. 22020
  3. 12025
  4. 62026

Months in 2026

  1. 0Jan
  2. 0Feb
  3. 0Mar
  4. 0Apr
  5. 0May
  6. 3Jun
  7. 0Jul
  8. 3Aug
  9. 0Sep
  10. 0Oct
  11. 0Nov
  12. 0Dec

Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.

  1. 2026
    Moss Landing harbor, Monterey Bay Monterey Bay
    Unidentified Sanctuary Cruises, Captain's Log

    Harbor seals were reported inside the harbor in the day's account of Sanctuary's trips. Harbour seal

  2. 2026
    Moss Landing harbor, Monterey Bay Monterey Bay
    Unidentified Sanctuary Cruises, Captain's Log

    A harbor seal was observed near returning sea lions as Sanctuary entered the harbor after its late-morning trip. Harbour seal · 1 seal

  3. 2026
    Waters near Moss Landing harbor, Monterey Bay Monterey Bay
    Unidentified Sanctuary Cruises, Captain's Log

    Two harbor seals were observed nearer the harbor during Sanctuary's morning trip. Harbour seal · 2 seals

  4. 2026
    Waters near Moss Landing harbor, Monterey Bay Monterey Bay
    Unidentified Sanctuary Cruises, Captain's Log

    Harbor seals were observed closer to the harbor during a morning trip in rough seas. Harbour seal

  5. 2026
    Monterey Bay, boat trip from Moss Landing Monterey Bay
    Unidentified Sanctuary Cruises, Captain's Log

    The morning trip aboard Sanctuary recorded two harbor seals along the route. Harbour seal · 2 seals

  6. 2026
    Monterey Bay, boat trip from Moss Landing Monterey Bay
    Unidentified Sanctuary Cruises, Captain's Log

    Harbor seals were recorded during the morning trip aboard Sanctuary. Harbour seal