Elephant seals returning to San Simeon, California State Parks seeking volunteers to act as guides

The elephant seals are returning to San Simeon, and local wildlife experts are getting ready.

Experts say as many as 17,000 of the large seals take over the beaches in San Simeon over the course of the year.

Adult male elephant seals typically start arriving in November and fight for mating rights from December through January. Female elephant seals start arriving in December and stick around through March to give birth.

According to Visit San Simeon, the best time for visitors to get a glimpse of the elephant seals is in January and February, and State Parks rangers are preparing.

California State Parks and the Friends of the Elephant Seal group decided to launch a new Winter Guide Program so people can learn about the seals without putting any of them in danger.

The two agencies are looking for people to work as guides on Fridays through Sundays and holidays from mid-December to mid-March.

The guides will help beach goers get around the seals and share information about them.

If you’re interested in becoming a guide, there will be a meeting on November 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History. A second meeting will be held on November 16 at 10 a.m. at the Cavalier Plaza in San Simeon. A required one-day training session will be held December 7. For more information and to fill out an application, click here.

KEYT 2019