Birth of an Elephant seal

The northern elephant seal named Elsie Mae, who has been known by Deception Pass State Park officials for a few years, gave birth to a pup on Jan. 31. Officials closed the Bowman Bay area to protect the pup from human and pet interference, and to protect humans and pets from a protective mother. Elsie has been used to humans; staff are making an effort to not have the new born imprinted in the same way.

Helpful volunteers are on sight to answer many questions. You might find a bird watcher with a scope and you can see the seal faces up close. Mother and baby seemed to talk to each other with loud roars and different sounds.

The mother seal will use her fat reserves to feed the baby for several weeks, before she leaves it on the beach alone. She belongs to a small group of northern elephant seals who have been visiting Whidbey and Fidalgo Island.

Northern elephant seals spend most of their time at sea, feeding on squid, small sharks and rays. They were almost hunted to extinction in the 19th century, because their blubber was used to make oil. In 1922 the Mexican government started protecting them, and by 1972 the United States passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which has helped them to increase their numbers.

It is expected that Elsie will come back to the same area in another year or two, and that her young one will do the same in the future. That is something fun to look forward to!