SPECIES IDENTIFICATION

Pinniped means "feather-" or "fin-footed" and refers to
the marine mammals that have front and hind flippers.
They are the seals, sea lions, and walruses.

The following pinnipeds frequent our Southern California coastline:

 

HARBOR SEALS (Phoca vitulina) have a rounded head with a fairly blunt snout and, like other phocids, or "true" seals, they lack external ear pinnae. They are relatively skittish animals. The spotted coats of harbors seals vary in color from silver to tan to brownish-black. Males and females are about the same size, reaching close to 300 pounds. Females produce one pup per year between February and July. While the majority of pups are born at protected haul-out sites, a female may give birth on any quiet sandy beach. At birth, a pup will be a little larger than a house-cat and capable of following its mother into the water. It will nurse for about 4 to 6 weeks. Pups frequently call to their mother with a sheep like "m-a-a-a". A mother may leave her pup on shore while she forages. She will not return if there are people or dogs visible.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

No external ear pinnae. Flippers have hair on both surfaces, claws at the tips.

Spotted - grey, silver, brown, tan.

Alert and skittish.

Moves on land by undulating or bouncing.
 

NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS (Mirounga angustirostrisare) are the largest of the pinnipeds, reaching 16 feet in length and 2.5 tons. An adult male can be identified by its size and an enlarged, inflatable proboscis which may overhang the mouth. Females are not as large - weighing in at close to 2000 pounds. Pups are born at established rookery sites from late December - February. They weigh up to 75 lbs. at birth and may be four feet long. The dark, almost black coat of a newborn will change to a silvery-grey as it matures. Pups are weaned abruptly at about 28 days when the female returns to the ocean. The pup will join other 'weaners' in the rookery for about two months until hunger and curiosity drives them to the sea in search of their natural diet of squid, fish, rays and small sharks. Young elephant seals appear on our local beaches around March. They can be found resting and warming themselves, often seen tossing sand on their backs - a behavior unique to the elephant seal.
       

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

No external ear pinnae. Flippers have hair on both surfaces with claws at the tips. White nasal discharge is normal.

Young are grey to silver in color with a lighter underside. Adults are tan, gold, or brown.

E-seals may appear lethargic, disinterested, or unafraid of humans.

Often seen tossing sand on their backs.

On land, they undulate like an inch-worm.

  
 
Front flipper.
              
                       
Healthy weaner.
 
             
CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS (Zalophus californianusare), members of the otariid family, are distinguishable by their external ear pinnae, and wing-like front flippers upon which they can prop themselves up. Using their back flippers they become quadrupedally mobile. Males are often dark brown, nearly black when wet, and females are typically lighter brown or tan. A mature male will have developed a thick neck and a noticeable crest on its forehead and can weigh close to 800 pounds. Females will weigh closer to 230 pounds. Pups are born into established, offshore, island rookeries. Pups born on the mainland - outside of a rookery, cannot survive without intervention. Unable to swim at birth, sea lion pups will nurse for six months, sometimes over a year while learning to forage. Sea lions are very social creatures, gathering in groups where they can rest closely packed together. They will also congregate in "rafts", floating on the surface of the ocean. To help keep warm while in the water, a sea lion may raise a flipper out of the water as it floats. This is known as "jugging".
                                     

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Ear pinnae present. Long fore flippers - mostly hairless with rudimentary nails set back from the tips of the digits. Dog-like face.

Dark chocolate brown, almost black, to light tan.

Quadrupedally mobile. Able to climb up onto rocks and other objects.

        
                       
 
The lighter area is where its coat is dry.
 

 

EVALUATING AN ANIMAL'S CONDITION

 

When presented with a beached seal or sea lion, keep in mind
these animals come ashore to get warm, dry and to rest.

 

WHAT NOT TO DO:

1) Do not touch the animal. Marine mammals can
carry diseases transmissible to people and pets.

2) Do not pour water or sand on it, or chase it back into the sea.
It has chosen to be out of the water - maybe to get warm and to rest.

3) Do not offer it food, or water to drink.

 

 

How you can help:

Give the animal space.
You are the predator. No matter what you have in your heart, a wild animal will feel some degree of anxiety with your presence. All spectators should stay at least 50 feet away form the beached animal.

 

From a distance, quietly observe the animal's behavior
and determine the species. Note any signs of illness or injury.

 

The following are common ailments, and things to look for - a guideline to help you determine an animal's need for assistance.

If the animal is obviously injured or ill, please notify the nearest marine mammal rescue organization without delay.

 

Entanglement in gill nets or fishing line. The animal
may appear to have a deep cut around its neck.

 

A bite from a Cookie-cutter shark. Usually
a superficial wound that will heal with time.

 

An encounter with a ratfish or bat ray may
leave an animal injured by a stinging barb.

 

Is the animal too thin? If its ribs or hipbones are noticeable, or
in elephant seals - if there is a void between the base of the skull
and the shoulders, the animal is underweight. It will be up to the
rescue organization to determine if the animal requires aid.

 

Domoic acid poisoning will cause central nervous system disorders. Symptoms may include head weaving, disorientation, lack of muscle control, and seizures.

 
         

 

PINNIPED RESCUE GROUPS
& REHABILITATION CENTERS

 

Northern California, Humboldt County

 

Northcoast Marine Mammal Center
424 Howe Drive
Crescent City, CA 95531
707.465.6265
northcoastmmc.org

 

Marin County to San Luis Obispo County

 

The Marine Mammal Center
Marin Headlands
1065 Fort Cronkhite
Sausalito, CA 94965
415.289.SEAL (7325)
Santa Cruz and Monterey area 831.633.6298
San Luis Obispo area 805.771.8300
marinemammalcenter.org

 

Santa Barbara County

 

Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center
389 North Hope Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
805.687.3255

 

Ventura County

 

Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute
PO Box 4250
Santa Barbara, CA 93140-4250
805.567.1506
CIMWI.org

 

Los Angeles County

 

The California Wildlife Center (within the City of Malibu)
310.458.WILD (9453)
californiawildlifecenter.org

 

Marine Animal Rescue (beaches and harbors South of Topanga Cyn)
800.39.WHALE (399.4253)
 whalerescueteam.org

 

Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur (no rescue service)
3601 South Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
310.548.5677
marinemammalcare.org

 

Orange County

 

Pacific Marine Mammal Center
20612 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.494.3050
pacificmmc.org

 

San Diego County

 

Sea World
Department of Animal Care
500 SeaWorld Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
800.541.7325

 

 

 

REPORT A DEAD MARINE MAMMAL

 

Northern California

Vertebrate Museum
Humboldt State University
Arcata, CA 95521
707.826.4872

Bay Area

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
University of California
 Berkeley, CA 94720
510.642.1379

Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy
California Academy of Sciences
 San Francisco, CA 94118
415.750.7177

Santa Cruz and Monterey Area

Long Marine Lab
University of California
 Santa Cruz, CA 95064
831.459.2883

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Moss Landing, CA 95039
831.633.3304

Santa Barbara Area

Vertebrate Laboratory
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
805.682.4711

Southern California

Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
Section of Mammals
Los Angeles, CA 90007
323.585.5105

NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center
La Jolla, CA 92038
858.546.7162