Winter Wildlife Docent Day 5
It’s the end of the breeding season and the last elephant seals on the beach are the cutest ones — the chubby weaned pups aka “weanlings” or “weaners”. At the end of nursing after about 28 days, weaned pups weigh up to 300 pounds. Their coat changes to silver with the occasional clump of dark baby fur still clinging. From my outpost at the Lifeboat Station on Thursday March 21st, I watched the weaners sleeping on the ramp — the sound of snorts filling the air. The snorts happen at the end of holding their breath — it’s how they practice for the deep dives they will do to hunt food. Visitors were also treated to the weaner characteristic screechy call. Trivia: baby elephant seals sounds were used for the smaller Moria Orcs in Lord of the Rings (recorded at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito).
Northern Elephant Seal weaned pups sleeping on the ramp outside the Lifeboat Station in Point Reyes National Seashore.
The Lifeboat Station is typically quiet in the morning with few visitors so I decided to hike the Chimney Rock Trail and talk to visitors while my fellow docent, Rishi stayed at the Lifeboat Station. I was curious to see which wildflowers were blooming. Short answer: all of them but in smaller numbers than later in the spring. No visitors I encountered had seen any whales in the distance. I let them know to stop by the Lifeboat Station to see the elephant seals. One visitor was a biologist looking for a known pair of Peregrine Falcons that nest at Chimney Rock. He did not spot them before I left. Alas, no whales or falcons but I had an incredible close encounter with a long-tailed weasel.
I spotted the weasel about 25 feet away in some tall grasses, then the weasel quickly disappeared and popped up a few feet away. After watching a minute or two, I hiked on. I paused for a minute and looked down to see the weasel had emerged right next to me in a hole along the trail. I stood quietly and watched the weasel who didn’t seem to mind — even when I took a video! What a magical moment. It was the highlight of my day.
Long-tailed weasel popped up along the Chimney Rock Trail. Click the image to watch the video.