Harbor Seals at The Sea Ranch Wall Art By Marjolein Bastin

Image Notes We have rented a home on the California coast, a few hours north of San Fransisco, and are spending a few days familiarizing ourselves with what nature has to offer here. Everything is so different! One of the exciting things we quickly discover is a colony of harbor seals. On a deserted beach below the bluff dozens of females have gathered with their pups to rest, feed and enjoy the warmth of the sun. The pups are nursed by their mothers for about four to six weeks and during this time the weight of the pup doubles, not surprising given the fact that the mother's milk contains 50% milk fat! Now the pup has a waterproof fur coat and can find food independently. They can dive to depths of more than 500 feet and stay underwater for up to 40 minutes! Large black eyes help their vision in deep, dark waters and they can locate fish using their sensitive whiskers, amazing!