Elephant seals hauled out on California beaches for molting and pupping face chronic disturbance from beach visitors who approach too closely, disrupting critical rest and nursing behavior.
Elephant seals hauled out for breeding, molting, or resting are engaging in energy-critical activities during which disturbance causes measurable harm. Nursing interruptions reduce pup weight gain during the narrow nursing window. Female seals flushed off beaches from disturbance expend energy they cannot afford during fasting. Pups separated from mothers during disturbance may fail to reunite successfully. The welfare harm from beach harassment of hauled-out elephant seals is real and preventable through enforcement of minimum distance regulations and visitor education.