Human Threat to Seal Pups from La Jolla to Newfoundland
THE BEAUTIFUL SEALS OF LA JOLLA, CA
Two weeks ago, I visited La Jolla, California to observe the harbor seals in residence at Casa Beach. Pup season runs from December through May and mother seals are continually drawn to this beautiful place to deliver their offspring.
Tourists and residents alike make the short walk to the beach from downtown La Jolla, often bringing their children to marvel at and learn more about the life of seals. According to La Jolla Friends of the Seals, 38 births have taken place on Casa Beach as of March 16th, many of which were witnessed from a respectful distance by humans in awe of the miracle of life taking place before them.
THE BEACH DEBATE
Of course, some people feel this beach should belong exclusively to humans. One man holds vigil at a table passing out pamphlets lauding the rights of people to use this space. Two men and a child frequently camp out on the beach, tossing a Frisbee too close to the seals. The child, at one point, was seen standing triumphantly on a rock lording over a mother giving birth. These accounts come from SealWatch volunteer, Colleen Cochran, in her recent article “Diary of a SealWatcher” (San Diego Reader, April 2, 2011).
California Road Tripping: 1000 Miles of Bliss
I apologize for the light postings of late. It was time to climb out from under this laptop and live a bit of This One Wild Life.
Tim and I took a little road trip last week, traveling up the Pacific Coast Highway from LA through Carmel (where we ate at Clint Eastwood’s Hog’s Breath Inn), down Lombard street (twice!) in San Francisco, over the snow-cleared Tioga Pass of Yosemite National Park to Mono Lake, and around the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe … until we got to Reno, flew to Vegas, lost all our money and came home.
So, what makes for a great road trip? For us it was good company and a white Mustang convertable, heavy on the Mustang. (We can get the good company at home.) I am not a car person (What is it I drive again?) but this baby rocked. Able to pass 3 cars on a winding road boasting a 40 degree grade, all while ocean waves crashed 3000 feet directly below? Booyah! I was all, “Do it, Tim. You can take ‘em! Get those cars out of my photographs!” This is a far cry from my experience in Tim’s Passat where I grab the Oh Shit! Handle on thruway exits. What can I say? That Mustang corners like it’s on rails.
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