Elephant seals rest at the Piedras Blancas rookery north of San Simeon, California, after evading great white sharks. Orcas were seen off the coast of Pismo Beach.

Tourists and locals driving along Highway 1 stop year-round to check out the elephant seals near San Simeon but right now is quite the show as adult males haul themselves out of the water to molt ...

Pupping season for the northern elephant seals is expected to continue through February. You can see them gathering now at beaches near San Simeon.

Elephant seals rest at the Piedras Blancas rookery north of San Simeon, California, after evading great white sharks. Orcas were seen off the coast of Pismo Beach.

Juvenile elephant seals are on the beach at Piedras Blancas in San Luis Obispo County. A nonprofit is looking for volunteers for San Simeon Cove.

Elephant seals rest at the Piedras Blancas rookery north of San Simeon, California, after evading great white sharks. Orcas were seen off the coast of Pismo Beach.

Elephant seals rest at the Piedras Blancas rookery north of San Simeon, California, after evading great white sharks. Orcas were seen off the coast of Pismo Beach.

Elephant seals rest at the Piedras Blancas rookery north of San Simeon, California, after evading great white sharks. Orcas were seen off the coast of Pismo Beach.

Hundreds of elephant seals lounged in the sunshine on a San Simeon beach on Thursday, occasionally rousing from their naps to toss sand on themselves or bark at passing tourists.