Humpack Whales Surfacing

At the end of Monterey's undersea canyon, Elkhorn Slough drains into the ocean. This estuary is a rare sanctuary along the California coast, protected as habitat for the many species that reside there. Most natural harbors throughout the state have been turned into marinas and have been scoured of much of their marine life. The main channel of Elkhorn Slough though has been protected through a combined effort of state and federal government, and private landowners (including the Nature Conser...

Not until I started exploring central California though did I get the chance to get to know the Elephant Seal, another relative of harbor seals and sea lions, commonly known as Sea Elephants. They get their name from their protruding proboscis (snouts/noses) and their massive size. The males can get up to around 5000 pounds, and have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm during their migrations up to the icy waters of the arctic. They are a sexually dimorphic species, where the female...