Can an elephant seal hurt you?

Elephant seals have large, sharp teeth and can bite. They carry bacteria that can cause very serious infections for humans and pets.

Why do elephant seals flick sand?

Why do they flip sand? Their bodies are designed to keep warm in cold water. Sand flipping helps them keep cool on land by acting as a sunscreen. In addition, they sometimes can be seen flipping sand under stressful conditions.

How deep is an average dive for elephant seals?

1,000 to 3,000 feet
Elephant Seal Vital Statistics Diving: The average dive depth of an elephant seal is 1,000 to 3,000 feet (300 – 900 meters) with a maximum depth of over 5,000 feet (1,500 meters).

When can you see elephant seals?

Elephant Seals are seen year-round at the Piedras Blancas Rookery. Best times of year to see these amazing animals in action are October through May with the big show (birthing and breeding) in January and February. Come see these magnificent marine mammals up close on one of the prettiest coastlines in California.

Will a seal bite a human?

Seals can bite, but usually as an act of self-defense. All animals equipped with teeth, beaks, or pincers can “bite” humans and other animals when they feel threatened or provoked, and so do seals. Most seals are not known to be aggressive. Seal attacks on humans are rare, but they are not new.

How fast can an elephant seal move on land?

How fast can southern elephant seals travel? Southern elephant seals can move along the ground at about 5 kph (3 mph) while on land. While swimming, southern elephant seals move at speeds around 5 – 10 kph (3 – 6 mph).

What is the biggest seal in the world?

Southern elephant seals
Southern elephant seals breed on land but spend their winters in the frigid Antarctic waters near the Antarctic pack ice. Southern elephants are the largest of all seals. Males can be over 20 feet long and weigh up to 8,800 pounds. But these massive pinnipeds aren’t called elephant seals because of their size.

Why do elephant seals go so deep?

Most air-breathing animals can’t get to the depths where all this tasty seafood hides during the day. By being able to dive deep, elephant seals are able to leave behind competitors who might outcompete them back at the surface and to avoid shallow-roaming large predators that want to eat them.

Can sealions breathe under water?

No, sea lions cannot breathe underwater. However, they can hold their breath for approximately 8 to 20 minutes! Although they can dive to extraordinary depths, sea lions cannot breathe underwater. As they are mammals, sea lions must breathe air in order to survive.

What beach has elephant seals?

One is located at Año Nuevo State Park along the San Mateo Coast south of San Francisco. The other is Hearst-San Simeon State Park and the elephant seal vista point located about 5 miles north of Hearst Castle along the coast of San Luis Obispo County.

Where is the best place to see elephant seals?

The best viewing areas are located 90 miles south of Monterey, 5 miles north of Hearst Castle State Historical Monument in San Simeon. They are 1.5 miles south of Point Piedras Blancas. The viewing areas are open every day of the year, are wheelchair accessible and free.