Molly McCormley at UC Santa Cruz, Long Marine Lab, CA-- Ever wondered what its like to be an E Seal? What about an E Seal PUP!? E Seals are incredible animals, swimming thousands of miles each year, only coming out of the water twice to breed and molt. These are not your average seals, e seals are tough oceanic predators! During Elephant Seal Homecoming Days, we’ll explore the various life stages E Seals go though in our Day in the Life blog series. Today, drum roll please….PUPS!

A young pup nursing from mom at Año Nuevo State Reserve in Northern California. Photo: Nicole Teutschel.

Pups start each day, well each anything, with a BIG MEAL!  Imagine eating enough food to gain around 10 pounds every day!  That’s like eating your regular meals, plus 73 Big Macs!  E seal pups eat like pigs because they must store enough food in their blubber layer so that when their mom leaves they will be able to survive on their own.  Moms leave within only a few weeks after the pup is born. That’s why every meal counts!  When pups aren’t eating, they’re sleeping, because it’s hard work eating so much!

 Mother and pup snuggling at Año Nuevo State Reserve in Northern California. Photo: Nicole Teutschel.

E seal pups grow up in groups called harems.  It very easy to get lost in these groups because you neighbor is practically sitting on top of you!  Because of this, mothers and pups have special ways of recognizing each other using sight, sound, and smell.  They create a bond that will help keep them together while the pup is still nursing.  During the day, a mother and pup will disturb all their neighbors by vocalizing loudly and smelling each other to strengthen their bond.  This comes in handy when huge males race through groups like bulldozers moving anyone in their path.  Males are HUGE compared to the tiny pup!  They can be potentially dangerous if a pup gets in their way.  So pups must keep a sharp eye out and find their mother when the chaos is over!

 Male sitting next to a pup at Año Nuevo State Revserve in Northern California. Photo: Nicole Teutschel.

E seal pups are seeing a lot of things for the first time, so they are naturally very curious to their surroundings.  Sometimes when they get a little scared, it’s nice to know that mother is always within an arms (or, flippers) reach! While these little pups seem helpless, they are very quickly weaned and forced to fend for themselves.  They are tough little guys and will grow up to be the baddest seals in the sea!
A pup looking into the camera at Año Nuevo State Reserve in Northern California. Photo: Erin Pickett.

Stay tuned for more Day in the Life blogs! If you’d like to learn more check out the E Seal species page and the Elephant Seal Homecoming Days Page!