“It’s that time of year again when elephant seals come ashore to molt,” TIFFANY BOOTHE of SEASIDE AQUARIUM wrote to the Ear. “There is a MOLTING ELEPHANT SEAL in Hammond, pictured above, resting on the beach. He was reported to us March 30. When we went to check on him, he seemed active and alert, a very good sign.”

“When seals and sea lions molt, a process in which they shed their old coat of fur for a new one, large patches of skin will often come off with the fur, leaving sores on the animal,” Tiffany explained. “Coming up onto to beach raises the body temperature of the molting seal, helping the molting process go by more quickly.”

“There will surely be more elephant seals popping up on Clatsop beaches,” she added. “If you see an elephant seal or any other marine mammal, please give the Seaside Aquarium a call at (503) 738-6211.”