MY FAMILY HAS TRAVELED TO AND HIKED AT THIS STATE PARK FOR MANY TIMES AS WE HAVE VISITED HEARST CASTLE OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. THIS PARK HAS A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF ELEPHANT SEALS. SOME OF THE MALES FIGHT. IT IS HERE WHERE THEY MATE AND GIVE BIRTH TO THOUSANDS OF BABY SEALS. YOU CAN ALSO SEE SEALS AND OTTERS FROM THE TRAILS THERE. THEY HAVE INTERPRETERS NEAR THE BEACH WHO LET YOU KNOW TO STAY CLEAR OF THE SEALS AS NOT TO FRIGHTEN THEM - THEY CAN ATTACK ANY ANIMAL!
THEY HAVE A NICE VISITOR CENTER THERE AND THE SEAL'S SKIN SHEDS DURING THE YEAR. THEIR STRONG FLIPPERS SPEW SAND ON THEIR BACKS AND THEY WALLOW INTO THE SEA TO COOL OFF. THE MALES HAVE TUSKS THAT ARE VERY SHARP AND WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF FIGHTS WITH THE MALES BLOODY SKINS ON THEIR HEADS AND NECK. SOME OF THEIR FIGHTS ARE OVER FEMALE MATING. AND OTHERS ARE JUST THEIR BEHAVIOR.
THE PARK HAS A NUMBER OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS WHO WHO STUDY THE SEALS AND DO SURVEYS, CHECK THEIR HEALTH, ETC. WE HAVE SEEN THEM MEASURE THEIR EIGHT AND SIZE (LENGTH AND WIDTH). THE FEMALES ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN THE MALES. THEY SWISH SAND OVER THEIR BODIES TO COOL THEMSELVES. WE HAVE SEEN THE BABY SEALS AS WELL. THEY STAY CLOSE TO THEIR MOMS TO NURSE.
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