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

8 January—17 January

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3 of 54 reports

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Explore by area

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.

3 of 3 reports shown in coastal views · 3 areas

Bay Area and Point Reyes detail viewBig Sur and Cambria detail view
Outlined areas show the coastal views below.

Bay Area and Point Reyes

Point Reyes · 1 report1Año Nuevo · 1 report2
Mapped areas North to south
  1. Point Reyes1 report
  2. Año Nuevo1 report

Big Sur and Cambria

Point Buchon · 1 report3
Mapped areas North to south
  1. Point Buchon1 report

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. 12005
  2. 12007
  3. 12009
  4. 12010
  5. 12011
  6. 32017
  7. 32018
  8. 12019
  9. 62020
  10. 32021
  11. 32022
  12. 32023
  13. 32024
  14. 42025
  15. 202026

Months in 2026

  1. 3Jan
  2. 2Feb
  3. 1Mar
  4. 0Apr
  5. 3May
  6. 4Jun
  7. 3Jul
  8. 4Aug
  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
    Coast near Point Buchon Point Buchon
    J912 The Tribune / Christine Heinrichs, citing UC Santa Cruz

    Tracking data placed the adult male J912 ashore near Point Buchon after his return from northern foraging waters. Northern elephant seal · 1 seal

  2. 2026
    Año Nuevo State Park, Pescadero Año Nuevo
    Unidentified Associated Press / Godofredo A. Vásquez

    Dated photographs show elephant seals resting on the beach, including a bull and a pup among adult females. Northern elephant seal

  3. 2026
    Drakes Beach, Ken Patrick Visitor Center Point Reyes
    V4 National Park Service / PRNSA

    The bull identified by dye mark V4 was photographed resting beside the visitor center. Northern elephant seal · 1 seal