• American Camp prairie and Mount Finlayson.

    San Juan Island

    National Historical Park Washington

  • American Camp Visitor Center on Daily Schedule

    The American Camp visitor center will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily through Friday, June 2. Grounds are open sunrise to 11 p.m. The English Camp visitor center opens June 2. Grounds are open 8 a.m. to sunset. More »

Pinnipeds - Seals Sea Lions and Walruses

The word pinnipedia translates from Latin as "feather or fin foot," referring to their often large fin-like flippers. All pinnipeds must come ashore to breed, give birth, and nurse their young. Seals, sea lions, and walruses are taxonomically related to other carnivores, including bears, dogs, raccoons, and weasels (including otters).

Three families of living pinnipeds are recognized:

  1. Phocidae (earless seals or true seals)
  2. Otaridae (eared or fur seals and sea lions)
  3. Odobenidae (walrus)

Did You Know?

Bald eagle feeding young.

The San Juan Islands have the largest concentration of bald eagles in the continental United States. The once active nest in this photo is located at the American Camp visitor center. More...