Elephant Seal in the Strait of Georgia

[trendsetter]

Yesterday I spotted a massive bull elephant seal in the strait of Georgia. It was about mid-way point between UBC and Gabriola; 8-10 miles offshore. Tried to get a video of it but only managed a crappy few seconds.

Looked like a giant tree stump bobbing in the water until I got closer and realized it was a seal's head. Hard to tell from this picture but his head was HUGE, maybe the size of a beach ball.

I've never seen one of these in the strait and apparently it's extremely rare for them to be on this side.

 

[Charter Tofino]

Very cool! They are definitely not common and I have yet to see one. Here is a big boy from a few years back.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...8/11/24/bc-mammoth-elephant-seal-nanaimo.html

 

[trendsetter]

Very cool! They are definitely not common and I have yet to see one. Here is a big boy from a few years back.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...8/11/24/bc-mammoth-elephant-seal-nanaimo.html

Yeah, it was a cool thing to see. Just wish he stayed on the surface a little longer so I could get a better video.

Here's what a managed. Around 30 sec mark you get the best view of him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgoafW9GWBc

 

[Dogbreath]

If it wasn't such a nice flat calm day you'd never know WTH it was-Man Alive are they UGLY!!!

 

[Fish Assassin]

There is one that lives up around Hornby Island. Super huge animal.

 

[fshnfnatic]

Saw one as well in Saanich Inlet when I was prawning back in Feb. Came up right in front of my boat as I was pulling a trap. Freaked the SH@# right out of me at first!! Huge and ugly critters for sure.

 

[sir-vivor]

Do they taste good with galic ?

 

[Mighty Sylvan]

There is one that lives up around Hornby Island. Super huge animal.

I saw that one last year on the Canada long weekend.

 

[Cuba Libre]

This guy has been around Hornby during herring and the early summer for the last three years

 

[cuttlefish]

Have to agree. Saw one about ten years ago while exiting southbound from Grenville Channel. A face only a mother could love.

 

[Bod]

Nope. Couldn't be. Ask the experts, as they swear they are only off shore. Haha. Last one I saw here at Bamfield, I thought was dead head as I swerved to miss it