July 22, 2003: The 2 smallish elephant seals still hauled out and staying close to each other.The big fellow continues to haul out behind the boat house for a time each day.The three do not interact, in fact the 2 smaller ones do their best to move out of the big fellow’s way as he ambles along the sidewalk to ‘his’ spot.
Tag Archives: elephant seal
Marine mammal census in April
April 3, 2003: Did a boat trip around West Race and the Middle rocks and counted 11 Elephant Seals hauled out.There were 3 fairly large males and the rest assorted smaller males and females.The one big fellow that has been hauled out near the boat house for the last few weeks was floating about just off the south tip of the middle rock.There were 5 Northern and 14 California Sea Lions also hauled out with the Elephant seals
April 6, 2003: There were 13 Elephant Seals,12 hauled out on Middle Rock and the one large male floating about close to the shore this afternoon.The Elephant Seals have been joined by about 20 California and 9 Northern Sea Lions
April 14, 2003: There were about 35 California and 9 Northern Sea Lions hauled out on Middle rock with the Elephant Seals.
Just the one Elephant Seal today
March 17, 2003: The larger Elephant Seal in his favoured spot but the ‘recovered’ one spent quite some time trying to plan a route to the water-he moved down to the ramp but seemed reluctant to get too close to the other which had spread himself across the tracks, so he went overland! 3/4 of the distance was fairly soft grass but the last 20 ft. was a rough and rocky descent just east of the winch house.
March 20, 2003: The Elephant Seal that seemed a permanent fixture on the ramp slipped into the water early this morning and has not returned-miss seeing and hearing.
Mar 26, 2003: Just the one Elephant Seal today in his usual spot on the boat ramp
March 27, 2003: The Elephant Seal took to the water just after 7 this morning and had not returned by dark, did not hear him at all, he may have hauled out on one of the other rocks.
with the blowing snow and NE wind at 30+ knts.
March 2,2003: The 2 Elephant Seals still spending most of the day hauled out on Gr. Race,the one that had been injured prefers an inland spot while the other one favours the boat ramp.We hear them after midnight,they can be quite noisy going and returning from feeding.
March 5,2003: The 2 Elephant Seals are still hauled out, the ‘roamer has stayed tucked in behind the boat house out of the wind.The other has become a fixture by the boat house door.
March 6, 2003: They tied their boat at the outer end of the dock, maybe a little intimidated by the Elephant Seal stretched out on the ramp,but most likely they didn’t want to disturb him. He is actually very docile especially if you approach him slowly and carefully.
March 7,2003: Both Elephant Seals still hauled out most of the day,one on the ramp and the other a bit restless today moving from place to place,ended up behind the boat house.
March 8, 2003: The Elephant Seals took to the water which at 7.4? would be warmer than the air at 0? with the blowing snow and NE wind at 30+ knts.
March 10, 2003: The 2 Elephant Seals hauled out all day in their usual spots.
March 13, 2003: he one Elephant Seal we call the roamer did not haul out today but the other big fellow moved up out of the way of the swells on the ramp and spent the whole day with his nose literally pressed against the boat house door
uses his good eye to watch the boat move up the rails
Feb. 23,2003: The recovering Elephant Seal was very restless,spent most of they day moving around the island trying to find the best spot.He finally settled near the south end of the boat house.The other Elephant Seal spent the day in his usual spot just below the door to the boat house.
Feb. 26, 2003: The recovered Elephant Seal still spending a good part of the day roaming about then usually settles down behind the boat house. The recovered Elephant Seal still spending a good part of the day roaming about then usually settles down behind the boat house.
Feb26: 2003: The 2 Elephant Seals hauled out most of the day. The one by the boat ramp is not bothered at all with our coming and going in the boat, even the noise from the winch for the boat dolly does not bother him,he does turn his head to use his good eye to watch the boat move up the rails and we are careful to give him lots of time to back out of the way. Once the boat is put away he usually stretches back across the rails in his favourite spot!
never know where he will be stretched out in the dark!
Feb. 12 2003: The injured Elephant Seal has moved over near the engine room, he seems to like the long grass. We haven’t heard him vocalize but the other big fellow is quite noisy. The molting juvenile Elephant Seal left sometime during the night.
Feb. 17, 2003: The Elephant Seal still spends most of the day near the end of the dock with 2 or 3 ‘haul outs’ by the boat house usually in the early morning and mid afternoon and since he often floats just below the surface boaters should take special caution in the area.
Feb. 20, 2003: he 2 big Elephant Seals both spent the day hauled out,one on the boat ramp and the recovering one in the long grass between the Science centre and the boat house. We can get quite close without disturbing them but for some reason they react to people wearing red jackets.
Feb. 21, 2003:Still hear the Elephant Seals at night,sounds like they are going into the water to feed about 1 a.m. and returning a couple hours later. The one that hauls out by the boat house is the more vocal one.The smaller one roams the island but usually ends up behind the boat house,seems to like the grass.We are careful to take a flashlight at night, never know where he will be stretched out in the dark!
Slash, an Elephant Seal Injured by a Motorboat
This page is directed to all those marine vessel operators who persist in driving at high speeds in areas frequented by Marine birds and mammals. This Elephant Seal was struck by a motor boat somewhere around Race Rocks in January of 2003. Fortunately he will probably survive, he was one of the “lucky” ones. This is the most northern location for haulout of elephant seals . They are docile creatures, unafraid of boats. We just have to slow down and watch the surface carefully to avoid these animals when we are driving around sensitive ecological areas.
In January 2003, two male elephant seals were hauled out on Great Race island. One was suffering from severe injuries, probably inflicted by someone driving a motor boat at high speed in the area around Race Rocks.
We eventually named “Slash” and he becomes the docile elephant seal that hangs around the main island for many years.
- See MPA Guardian Carol Slater’s comments on these animals in the Daily log of Jan19, Feb 11, Feb13, Feb 14 and Mar 1, 2003
- See the recovery a year and a half later in july 2004
- See Elephant Seal Taxonomy
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The wounds look like they are healing very well,
Feb. 3 2003: The large male Elephant Seal is still hauling out on the boat ramp for several hours at a time then returning to the water to leisurely circle the island just off shore.He is not as vocal as he has been but do hear him snorting every half hour or so.
Feb 4 2003: The large Elephant Seal has not returned to the boat ramp but we do now have a juvenile that appears to be going through it’s ‘molt’.
Feb. 5,2003:. The young Elephant Seal seems settled in for an extended stay in front of the boat house and except for rolling from one side to the other a couple of times has not moved much.Unlike the big males this juvenile ‘growls’ if anyone approaches within 8-10 feet,we keep our distance anyway, don’t want to add stress to an already stressed animal.
Feb. 11, 2003: The molting juvenile Elephant Seal is still hauled out next to the boat house and just likes to be left alone.The Elephant Seal that was injured has returned! He has moved inland about half way across Gr. Race near the Science building. The wounds look like they are healing very well, his eyes are clear and healthy looking. The other male Elephant Seal still around but did not come ashore today.
4 notes on elephant seal males
Jan 22 , 2003: The big Elephant Seal spends a good deal of the day in the dock area vocalizing often enough to let us know he’s still here,when he really bellows he is loud enough we can hear him over the roar of the wind and the sea!
Jan 23 2003: The large Elephant Seal continues to circle Gr. Race all day and all night. As for the wounded fellow (SLASH) there have not be any sightings today.
Jan 26, 2003: The Elephant Seal hauled out on the boat ramp out of the wind and spent the day,not always quietly soaking up a little sun.
Jan 29 2003: The Elephant Seal continues to divide his time between the boat ramp and the water by the dock.
Slash, the Injured Elephant Seal
In January 2003, two male elephant seals were hauled up on Great Race island. One was suffering from severe injuries, probably inflicted by someone driving a motor boat at high speed in the area around Race Rocks. This elephant seal we eventually name “Slash” and he becomes ta docile elephant seal that hangs around the main island for many years. Ecoguardian Mike Slater took this video. See other videos of him on this site.
- See MPA Guardian Carol Slater’s comments on these animals in the Daily log of Jan19, Feb 11, Feb13, Feb 14 and Mar 1, 2003
- See the recovery a year later below:
- Fortunately he has recovered well as can be seen her in two videos taken by Mike Slater in July and August ,2003. later we started vcalling him Slash and have devoted a special page to him on this website