. California fish and game. Fisheries -- California; Game and game-birds -- California; Fishes -- California; Animal Population Groups; Pêches; Gibier; Poissons. HARBOR SEAL POPULATION TRENDS 223 Pupping In both areas, pups first were observed in mid-April. The first weaned pups were seen at both Santa Cruz sites on 23 May, which was approximately 5 weeks after the first pups were observed. This agrees with previous studies which state the suckling period lasts approximately 4-6 weeks (Bishop 1967, Newby 1973, Knudtson 1977). In the San Mateo area a lone pup was seen slightly earlier than in t
. California fish and game. Fisheries -- California; Game and game-birds -- California; Fishes -- California; Animal Population Groups; Pêches; Gibier; Poissons. HARBOR SEAL POPULATION TRENDS 223 Pupping In both areas, pups first were observed in mid-April. The first weaned pups were seen at both Santa Cruz sites on 23 May, which was approximately 5 weeks after the first pups were observed. This agrees with previous studies which state the suckling period lasts approximately 4-6 weeks (Bishop 1967, Newby 1973, Knudtson 1977). In the San Mateo area a lone pup was seen slightly earlier than in the Santa Cruz sites (11 May, at Pebble Beach). Before 1 June, maximum numbers of pups on any one day were 22 at Waddell and 14 at The Ladder with only scattered pups seen at Pigeon Point and Pebble Beach. On one occasion a single pup was sighted at China Cove indicating again that female-pup pairs may move. On the basis of preliminary studies conducted in 1978 and 1979, it was established that the mean weaning date at Waddell was 31 May. In 1980, maximum numbers of pups decreased after 1 June, as weanings occurred, pre- sumably due to emigration and mortality. On a single day in June, eight weaned pups were observed at Pebble Beach, although only three female-pup pairs had ever been observed there previously. This movement of pups from the nurturing site is similar to that reported by Boulva (1975). The percent of pups in the population was lower in the San Mateo area than in the Santa Cruz area. It also was lower than in other populations that have been studied (Bishop 1967- ; Bigg ; Boulva ). This may have been a function of the previously described rough topography and more frequent disturbance by humans. Ladder Waddell. < 350 u. 300 DC 200 B 150 May June May June month 55% 35% 74% 78% % sexed FIGURE 5. Total number of adults sexed at the Santa Cruz sites in May and June Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images
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