dcarver
Well-known member
Full Story
HEARST RANCH
An elephant seal ditches the beach and heads for the "Enchanted Hill." The 1,500 pound creature has been hanging out on Hearst Ranch for the past few days now.
The seal is on ranchland located just south of Piedras Blancas, off Highway 1 across from the beach.
Wildlife experts say they have dealt with seals on the highway before, but they don't believe they have ever had a case quite like this one.
It's not what you would call a natural setting for an elephant seal. While the rest of his colony relaxes on the beach, this young adult male frustrates wildlife experts who are trying to convince the big guy to go back to the beach.
"He probably got under a fence or something. There's some weak links in the fencing that should be addressed to prevent this from happening," said Brian Hatfield, a wildlife biologist.
Teams of people have spent the last few days trying to coax the 1,500 pound animal to move.
Being here doesn't pose an immediate danger to the seal. However, when he decides to head back to the beach it could spell trouble.
"The worry is that he'll get out in the middle of the road and get struck by a vehicle, be killed and possibly seriously injure people," explained Hatfield.
No one knows for sure why the seal crossed the road, but experts do have a good idea why he's not going back. "Unfortunately there's a harem right on the other side of the beach with females and bulls and he wants to avoid bulls 'cause they'll give him a good thumping if he goes through the harem," said Hatfield.
Male elephant seals can be very aggressive as they battle each other for mating dominance. Experts believe this seal may just be wanting to avoid a fight. The elephant seals' mating season is now at its peak. During this time, the seals are capable of surviving for several weeks without food.
HEARST RANCH
An elephant seal ditches the beach and heads for the "Enchanted Hill." The 1,500 pound creature has been hanging out on Hearst Ranch for the past few days now.
The seal is on ranchland located just south of Piedras Blancas, off Highway 1 across from the beach.
Wildlife experts say they have dealt with seals on the highway before, but they don't believe they have ever had a case quite like this one.
It's not what you would call a natural setting for an elephant seal. While the rest of his colony relaxes on the beach, this young adult male frustrates wildlife experts who are trying to convince the big guy to go back to the beach.
"He probably got under a fence or something. There's some weak links in the fencing that should be addressed to prevent this from happening," said Brian Hatfield, a wildlife biologist.
Teams of people have spent the last few days trying to coax the 1,500 pound animal to move.
Being here doesn't pose an immediate danger to the seal. However, when he decides to head back to the beach it could spell trouble.
"The worry is that he'll get out in the middle of the road and get struck by a vehicle, be killed and possibly seriously injure people," explained Hatfield.
No one knows for sure why the seal crossed the road, but experts do have a good idea why he's not going back. "Unfortunately there's a harem right on the other side of the beach with females and bulls and he wants to avoid bulls 'cause they'll give him a good thumping if he goes through the harem," said Hatfield.
Male elephant seals can be very aggressive as they battle each other for mating dominance. Experts believe this seal may just be wanting to avoid a fight. The elephant seals' mating season is now at its peak. During this time, the seals are capable of surviving for several weeks without food.