That time has come again in La Jolla, where baby harbor seals pop up all over its beaches. Every year, from February to the end of April, seal pups and their mothers can be seen across La Jolla’s Coast. One of the most popular places to spot them is in La Jolla Cove, which is about a 20-minute drive from LJCDS without traffic. The baby seals are just getting to know the world, and are commonly seen with their clumsily galumphing and crying loudly.

Unlike the rest of the year, the entrances down to the beach below from the cliffs are closed off to protect the seals. In the past, humans were allowed to be much closer to this amazing bonding moment of mother and child. However, the presence of humans caused significant distress and complications for the harbor seals. As a visitor, it is important not to intentionally anger or scare the seals during this crucial time for survival. There have been instances where humans will either pet the seal or scare the seals, which causes the mother to abandon the baby. In most cases, this is automatically a death sentence for the seal pup. 

Baby harbor seals only spend around an average of four to six weeks learning the basic skills of being a seal and weaning from their mother. Weaning is the process by which a baby seal rapidly gains weight due to their mother’s milk, which contains over 50% fat. As they grow up and lose their white fluffy coat, they eventually have to fight for their own food and place in the seal society. Their mothers go back into the wild to regain the fat that they lost after feeding their pups for so long, but often return the next year to birth their pups in La Jolla once again.

If you spot a baby seal or an adult seal, do not interfere with it and instead call one of the resources that are posted near the viewing point if the seal is in need. For La Jolla Cove, however, there are multiple stations that watch over the beach and the seal viewing points for easier reporting access. Once the viewing points closer to the beach open, remember to be respectful to all the new juvenile seals who may be swimming along La Jolla’s coast so that they still feel safe to give birth here.