snapshot • Hopkins Beach with Harbor Seals

Harbor Seals, Pacific Grove, 2009.

Harbor Seals, Pacific Grove, 2009.

Sea Lion (Face), Coast Guard Pier, Monterey, 2009.

Sea Lions, Coast Guard Pier, Monterey, 2009.

Sea Lion Pup, Coast Guard Pier, Monterey, 2009.

Seal Camouflaged, Pacific Grove, 2009.

Harbor seals' coats are amazing camouflage. Often, one has to look closely to see them. 

Seal & Pup, Pacific Grove, 2009.

Maternal love is great when it works. Sometimes the seals will abandon their young, for unknown reasons. Pups don't last long when they are left alone.

Mother Seal & Pup, Pacific Grove, 2009.

Mother and baby Harbor seal. Babies stick pretty close to mom for the first few months, growing remarkably fast, putting on blubber from all that milk. A female has one pup every year or two, and teaches the pup to swim, hunt, dive, etc. Pups will often climb on their mother's back for a ride. If another pup tries to approach Mom, she will snarl and snap at the offending tyke, and even bite its tail to drive it away. They can be pretty ferocious.

Seal Pup, Pacific Grove, 2009.

April is birthing season for Harbor seals, and this pup seems content to lie around by himself. They're all pretty big by now.

Contented Harbor Seal, Hopkins Beach, Pacific Grove, 2009.

Doesn't s/he look happy? This Harbor Seal at Hopkins Beach near the Aquarium is unusual in that he is almost white. Most of them are splotched with grays and browns, some nearly black. They haul out on certain beaches, upwards of 100 at this beach. They lounge all day, some draped over offshore rocks, and fish at night. Nice life.