Environment

From plastic to high tide: 10 tales of struggle, survival for Central Coast seals and sea lions

Stories by The Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

The struggles of seals and sea lions underscore their resilience in an environment increasingly challenged by natural predators, disease, and human impact. From elephant seals battling high tides and mother-pup separations to sea lions suffering domoic acid poisoning, the challenges are profound yet highlight their adaptability. Examples include "Necklace," an elephant seal recovering from entanglement with human-made plastic, and a shark-bitten sea lion in Morro Bay, demonstrating their physical resilience despite serious injuries.

Juvenile elephant seals transition to independence, while dominant males fight for breeding rights, with mating battles often so intense that defeated bulls retreat to "bachelor beaches." These stories reflect their complex lives and the pressing need for conservation efforts addressing pollution, habitat loss, and ecosystem health to safeguard marine mammal populations.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Necklace, an elephant seal with plastic wrapped around her neck, rests on the beach at high tide on May 6, 2024. A Marine Mammal Center team was able to remove the plastic after isolating and sedating the seal. By Laurie Miller

NO. 1: ELEPHANT SEAL WITH PLASTIC AROUND NECK WAS SLOWLY STARVING. THEN SLO COUNTY RESCUERS STEPPED IN

“It really does take a village,” one organizer said of the endeavor to remove the plastic strap. | Published May 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Christine Heinrichs

This mother tolerates extra pups nursing. Around 80 percent of pups nurse on more than one mother. By Christine Heinrichs

NO. 2: SLO COUNTY HIGH TIDES TOOK A TOLL ON NEWBORN ELEPHANT SEAL PUPS — BUT HUNDREDS SURVIVE

Here’s what to know to when you visit. | Published February 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Christine Heinrichs

An injured sea lion rests on the rocks near Giovanni’s Fish Market and Galley in Morro Bay. The sea lion is recovering from shark bites. By Submitted photo

NO. 3: HAVE YOU SEEN THE SHARK-BITTEN CALIFORNIA SEA LION IN MORRO BAY? HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

The Marine Mammal Center has monitored the injured animal daily since it was first spotted in the harbor. | Published January 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mackenzie Shuman

This pod of weanling pups sleeps peacefully. Some have molted their black fur and others are in the process at Piedras Blancas beach. By Christine Heinrichs

NO. 4: WHAT DO VISITORS SEE AT SLO COUNTY ELEPHANT SEAL BEACH? BREEDING DRAMA, PUPS LEARNING TO SWIM

The roly-poly elephant seal weanlings are in a major transition phase in their lives, as they prepare for migration | Published February 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Christine Heinrichs

Northern elephant seal pups at the Marine Mammal Center in Morro Bay have a conversation on March 11, 2024. Pups in need of specialized care will be transferred to the center’s hospital in Sausalito. By David Middlecamp

NO. 5: DOZENS OF MARINE MAMMALS WERE RESCUED IN SLO COUNTY AFTER BEING HARASSED, NEW DATA SHOW

San Luis Obispo County has the third worst harassment numbers in the Marine Mammal Center’s coverage area. | Published March 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mackenzie Shuman

Monarch as a weanling with her new tags in April 2023. Photo taken under NMFS permit 22187-04. By Molly Murphy

NO. 6: CENTRAL COAST ELEPHANT SEAL PUP SWAM 5,000 MILES TO ALASKA AND BACK. SEE HER SURPRISING JOURNEY

Tracking data showed Monarch traveled well beyond what anyone thought a pup could do during its first migration. | Published June 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Christine Heinrichs

Volunteers Jennifer Weller, left, and Sally Campbell give fluids to an ailing sea lion being treated for domoic acid poisoning at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. By Giancarlo Rulli

NO. 7: SPIKE IN SICK SEA LIONS REPORTED ON SLO COUNTY BEACHES

The sea lions are suffering from domoic acid poisoning in higher numbers than normal. | Published July 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kathe Tanner

Volunteers and rescue workers are formulating a plan to remove a packing strap wrapped around a young elephant seal’s neck at Piedras Blancas. By Laurie Miller Photography

NO. 8: SLO COUNTY ELEPHANT SEAL WITH PLASTIC WRAPPED AROUND NECK EVADED RESCUE. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The young seal is estimated to weigh between 260 and 330 pounds. | Published November 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Christine Heinrichs

A young elephant seal bull rests on the sand under the eucalyptus trees of San Simeon Cove. By Christine Heinrichs

NO. 9: WHERE DO MALE ELEPHANT SEALS THAT CAN’T MATE GO? OFF TO SLO COUNTY’S ‘BACHELOR BEACHES’

Some call them losers — but any seal that lives long enough to be a contender is a success, one columnist writes. | Published January 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Christine Heinrichs

The Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center exhibit displays the routes three well-traveled seal athletes took and their performance stats. By Kathy Curtis

NO. 10: 3 ELEPHANT SEALS ARE THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES OF THE OCEAN. THEY SWAM MORE THAN 6,000 MILES

The three are now featured in a new Olympic-themed exhibit in San Simeon | Published July 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Christine Heinrichs

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.