Ashley Pearson at Año Nuevo State Reserve, CA-- The TOPP Team went out to Año Nuevo State Reserve to recover, or take off, satellite, time-depth-recorder and radio tags from Josephine the northern elephant seal, or E Seal. Nicole Teutschel is watching over my pup during my recovery. Photo: Erin Pickett

The team attached the tags during the molting season in May; they call this deploying, and the seals call this accessorizing! During the molt, elephant seals haul out on shore, and shed all their fur at once. As their fur sheds, a new coat shines through! The E Seal Team waited patiently for her new coat to grow long enough for satellite tags to be glued on!

Although Jo looks like shes crying, those tears are good! They help keep her eyes clear from sand...you'd look like that too if you were laying in sand all day! Photo: Erin Pickett

Soon after her deployment, Josephine took off for her 7-month foraging trip to the middle of the North Pacific. Josephine had to find enough food to gain weight to provide energy to her and her pup when she returned to Año Nuevo in January. Josephine only has those 7 months to fatten up because once she gives birth on the beach, she can't leave to forage. She must to stay and protect her pup. This means Josephine is both fasting and nursing her pup at the same time! As you can 5imagine, all that stored fat is very important for Jo, and her pup!
This is Jo's pup, he's 5 days old...cute huh? Photo: Erin Pickett

Josephine arrived at Año on January 9th, gave birth on the 12th, and was weighed on the 16th. Any guesses at this gorgeous girl's weight?? Drumroll please…Josephine came in at 542 kg, or 1192 lbs! Not only is that BIG for an animal, Jo's the biggest seal we've weighed yet this season! Usually our seals are around 1100 or so, so it looks like Josephine will have no problem fattening this little boy up!
Josephine watching over her pup during the recovery. Photo: Erin Pickett

This 9-year-old mommy has been very good with her pup so far, we are happy to report! She hauled out right in the middle of APG, one of the biggest harems at Año Nuevo State Reserve, a very safe place. In the middle, the pup is less likely to be chased down by the frequent male fights at the periphery. Jo was also very protective of her pup as we were sneaking in to recover her tags. In fact, we were able to catch her when her pup wandered towards us! Jo quickly raced to protect him, and the rest is tag history!
Even at 5 days old, he knows how to hold a perfect pose! Photo: Erin Pickett

Want to see more of Jo and her son? Check out SLIDESHOW JO!

Want to know more about Josephine and her friends? Visit the Elephant Seal Homecoming Days page!