Lauren Randall at Año Nuevo State Reserve, CA--Weaners have been spotted, scattered all over Año Nuevo! Weaners, officially called weanlings, are what researchers call elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, pups when they are weaned.

Weaners sticking together and staying out of the harem. Photo: Nicole Teutschel

Pups nurse for about twenty-seven days. During this time they get HUGE! Once they've grown big and fat, they are abruptly weaned by their very hungry mothers. Adult females give birth, nurse, and care for their pups without ever stopping to eat! That's right, e seal moms fast while they care for thier pups. So, as pups get bigger and bigger, mom gets smaller and smaller!
Now that's a HUGE weaner! Photo: Nicole Teutschel

On dreaded day 27, big milk hungary pups are left behind on the beaches when their mothers leave to feed and nourish themselves after the long, hard fast. The weaners are left alone! They now have to fast, for two whole months!  We can tell which ones are the newly weaned weaners by their shiny black coat which they lose a few weeks after being weaned.

Weaner's left on their own by mom. Photo: Nicole Teutschel

As more pups are weaned, the beaches will transition from noisy breeding harems to sleepy weaner piles. In a month, the beaches will be filled withweaners, but today the few early Año Nuevo weaners are hiding in the bushes, behind dunes, under logs, or even in muddy puddles. Anywhere far away from the breeding females, pups, and hundreds of big males ready for a fight. It's a scary beach out there!
Weaner "hiding" in a puddle. Photo: Nicole Teutschel

Nevertheless, weaners are very curious, and pretty fun to watch! Check out these photos, and elephant seal homecoming days to learn more about E Seals and their amazing journeys on land and sea!

Photo: Nicole Teutschel