Seals' Beach, San Diego
The Children's Pool AKA Seals' Beach is located in La Jolla, northwest of downtown San Diego. This is a corner of San Diego where a seawall was built in 1930 to provide a sheltered beach for children.
In the mid-nineties, Harbor seals discovered the beach. And loved it. They had a little sealie meeting and, after some barking and raising of flippers, decided to make it home. Talk about your perfect location for hanging out, napping, birthing pups, nursing pups and just generally lazing around in the delightful San Diego weather. However, besides just chilling at the Children's Pool (which the seals renamed Seals' Beach), the seals, uh, pooped. A bunch. The water in this area is full, full, full of bacteria.
As you can imagine, there are loads of people who are fighting for the seals' rights and loads of people who are fighting to have the area returned to humans. There are probably even some people fighting for the rights of the seaweed too. This is, after all, California.
It's currently birthing season (Jan. - May) and you can get some great shots of seal pups. You can get some great shots of adult seals too. Actually, it's quite amazing how close to the seals you can walk.
The City of San Diego is trying to find the funds to dredge the Children's Pool/Seals' Beach. This would both lower the amount of bacteria and drive away the seals. So, if you're interested in wandering around what is basically a Harbor seal rookery, head over to San Diego sooner rather than later.
I'm closing with some seal trivia. What do you call a group of seals? Feel free to make up your own expression.
Travis Erwin , who came up with this brilliant Hometown Monday idea, has links to posts of all kinds of interesting places.
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We were in San Diego about three years ago and loved it although we didn't get to the zoo. What a lovely city and I hope to go back.
ReplyDeleteDetroit has quite a nice zoo, which is slowly being modernized by the newer standards for keeping animals.
Very interesting post - I didn't know the answer for a group of seals so had to look it up (!)
ReplyDeleteI've learned something today - Thanks !
How about a symphony of seals?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! I'm for the seals & seaweed, personally. I live in an area that's had its natural ecosystem almost completely decimated, putting unbearable stresses on the declining animals who live there. Humans have far more than they need already, as far as I'm concerned.
ReplyDeleteTHat's so awesome! Hurrah for the seals! Boo for the people trying to take back the beach! Let's have the animals reclaim some land for once!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post!
This reminds me of Pier 39 in San Francisco. The first year I lived in the area, boats actually used that marina... Not anymore.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that watching the seals and sea lions are one of the many great things about the Pacific Coast. They are so fun to watch. BTW what is a group of seals called?
ReplyDeleteNever heard of it. Learn something new every day.
ReplyDeleteDitto what Ello said - great post!! I love me some seals!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a good evening Barrie - see you soon. Kellan
We visited Seals' Beach during last year's Spring Break Bonanza in San Diego! Such an awesome city!
ReplyDeleteI personally like 'a sloth of seals'. ;)
Wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteHumans always think they are in charge, but sometimes--not so much!
Terrie
Such beautiful eyes. With that kind of crusty topping, I'd just look filthy, not adorable.
ReplyDeleteWho is saving the bacteria???
ReplyDeleteThanks for the story!!
The seals look great
ReplyDeleteI've been there! It's amazing. I've never seen so many seals in one place.
ReplyDeleteI, like lots of others, have never seen a seal.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to.
Can't think what a group of them would be.......a shoal?
sealatorium
all best wishes
Your comment about the seaweed made me laugh. :)
ReplyDeleteUm...ewww!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome photo and post. And it is really wonderful that SD is doing such things.
ReplyDeleteI love to spend time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
http://www.mbayaq.org
They too do a great job at helping our sea creatures survive.
Well, it is certainly not a gaggle of seals! lol.
Save the seals!
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Hi Barrie, thanks for your visit to my foxy post.. I've enjoyed your blog and reading about your book deal . Big congrats! super deal! Dreams DO come true!! ....hmmmm, a bunch of singing seals? ..Seal song blue! claudia
ReplyDeleteWithout resorting to sneaky underhanded online research, I'm gonna say "pod". Kinda like whales, y'know.
ReplyDeleteI think the City of SD should erect a statue to you on the beach for the edification of the young of all species. :-)
P.S. I have have the most freakin' amazing couple of days reading "Unpredictable". First I laughed till I cried, then I cried till I laughed. I owe you Big Time, Barrie Summer!!
thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!
OMG!! My fingers slipped.
ReplyDeleteSummy.
*Bill goes off to cut off his fingers to teach them a lesson they won't soon forget*
Office? As in, Seal of Off... Nevermind.
ReplyDeleteApproval?
I LOVE Seal's beach. We scattered some of my friend Julie's ashes there after she died because it was her favorite spot in the whole world...
ReplyDelete