• The Point Reyes Beach as viewed from the Point Reyes Headlands

    Point Reyes

    National Seashore California

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  • Operational Changes Took Effect on May 1

    The Lighthouse Visitor Center is now only open Fridays through Mondays. The Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center will be closed through late December 2013. More »

  • 2013 Harbor Seal Pupping Season Closures

    From March 1 through June 30, the park implements closures of certain Tomales Bay beaches and Drakes Estero to water-based recreation to protect harbor seals during the pupping season. Please avoid disturbing seals to ensure a successful pupping season. More »

Return of Elephant Seals to Point Reyes National Seashore Prompts Temporary Beach Closures to Dogs for Winter 2000

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Date: January 3, 2000
Contact: John Dell’Osso, 415-464-5135

Superintendent Don Neubacher announced today that elephant seals have returned to the beaches of Point Reyes National Seashore. Due to the return of the seals, a temporary restriction on dogs is in place until the end of April from the South Beach parking lot, south.

This is only a temporary closure for the protection of elephant seals during the breeding and pupping season. The first pup was born this year on Christmas day. As of this date, 10 pregnant females have arrived at the Seashore and approximately 200 animals are already on shore. The total population for Point Reyes is 1,500 animals. The best viewing area for elephant seals is the overlook near the Chimney Rock parking lot.

Dogs will still be allowed on leash at North Beach, Kehoe Beach, and the southern portion of Limantour Beach.

The seashore is working with graduate students from Moss Landing Marine Lab to study the demographics of the seal population and how the colony is expanding within the seashore. This is the final year of a two-year study funded by the National Park Foundation and Canon U.S.A., Inc.

-NPS-

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