A popular California beach closed during the US government shutdown has been taken over by a herd of elephant seals.
The herd was forced to seek a safe haven when a storm and high tides inundated the seals’ usual habitat 32 miles northwest of San Francisco.
The unused beach made the perfect spot for the herd, which has swelled to around 100 in two weeks after 35 pups were born.
"Since Drakes Beach was closed during part of the shutdown, and there were no Park Rangers and no members of the public, that aided in the colonization of the beach," John Dell'Osso, a spokesman for Point Reyes National Seashore park where Drakes Beach is located, said.
Two bull seals, which can weigh up to 2.5 tons, have also been causing a bit of a disturbance, knocking down a fence, moving into the beach parking lot and lounging on the visitors centre’s wheelchair access ramp.
The seals have not appeared to take notice that the park has been reopened to humans, forcing rangers to keep the beach closed as they work out how to mix humans and seals.
Rangers plan to start allowing small groups of visitors to go to the beach this weekend to view the seals from about 30 metres away, Mr Dell’Osso said.
The herd is part of the area's growing elephant seal population, which currently numbers between 1,500 and 2,000.
Hunted to the point of extinction for their oil-rich blubber, the seals have made a comeback since the early 20th century and now number an estimated 150,000 worldwide.
The animals usually only come on land to give birth, breed and molt. They spend most of their lives in the open ocean feeding.
The Drakes Beach seals are likely to stick around until April when the pups will be weaned from their mothers. At that point, Mr Dell'Oso expects them to leave of their own accord.
