An elephant seal pup carcass is picked over by seagulls. The pup was perhaps abandoned by, or became separated from, its mother, or else succumbed to disease or injury from much larger males during their territorial battles on the beach.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 20391
A seagull watches as a Pacific harbor seal rolls about in the surf on a sandy beach. This group of harbor seals, which has formed a breeding colony at a small but popular beach near San Diego, is at the center of considerable controversy. While harbor seals are protected from harassment by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and other legislation, local interests would like to see the seals leave so that people can resume using the beach.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 00939