Año Nuevo Research

Click the link below to view the live tracking data from the Beltran Lab post-molt adult female northern elephant seals. They are heading out on their long migration to the northeast Pacific and will return in ~7 months to give birth to their pups.

https://my.wildlifecomputers.com/data/map/?id=6a24e20db752240d6c013b89

Año Nuevo State Park
UC Nature
UC Santa Cruz
Coastside State Parks Association

Congratulations to Beltran Lab undergraduate student, Maddi Stewart, for publishing her first peer-reviewed paper! Her work focuses on how male and female seals grow differently during the first few years of life.
Follow the link to read the full publication:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iOB4ssSaXTjfTa5x_KSf5bD-iR3fs6AJ/view?usp=sharing

Año Nuevo State Park
UC Nature
UC Santa Cruz

Take a look at this new paper comparing 'in vivo' vs 'in vitro' measurements of hemoglobin saturation in elephant seals. This has important implications for the use of near infra-red techniques that are commonly used to monitor humans.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zsx_I0K6fyGARIaQk6p5hFTsrS1gYeEY/view?usp=drive_link

UC Nature
Año Nuevo State Park
UC Santa Cruz

Check out this new paper documenting transfer of PFAS (forever chemicals) from mothers to pups.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vUoqsLL_RVvgvzCNmtQaBysZeGKUSSfu/view?usp=drive_link

UC Nature
Año Nuevo State Park
UC Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz Science
Coastside State Parks Association

Check out this book chapter by Dan Costa and colleagues showing how disturbances (both natural and man-made) can impact the behavior and physiology of elephant seals.

Año Nuevo State Park
UC Nature
UC Santa Cruz Science
UC Santa Cruz

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19vyTfnzW0N3CImHETeTjgAZ74vJEXqr0/view?usp=sharing

DNA analysis can now reliably identify relatedness in the northern elephant seal! Check out the full paper by Hernandez et al

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zsflq9lULyrj59Bs-ojNHAH4dEvjb2Tf/view?usp=drive_link

Año Nuevo State Park
UC Santa Cruz
UC Nature
UC Santa Cruz Science

Plastic debris can be a hazard for curious marine mammals. This juvenile elephant seal had a plastic packing strap around his neck. As seals grow, the plastic can cut deeper into the skin and has the potential to kill them. Luckily, researchers at UC Santa Cruz were able to save this seal by sneaking up to him while he was sleeping and quickly cut the packing strap!

NMFS 28472


UC Nature
Año Nuevo State Park
UC Santa Cruz

Año Nuevo has two live we**ams!

The mainland we**am runs 24/7 with a focus on elephant seals. (check them out at night!)
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_Id=31947

The island we**am runs from 8am to 5pm with a focus on California sea lions and sea birds (the lens is a bit foggy at the moment)
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_Id=31197

Enjoy!

Año Nuevo State Park
UC Nature
UC Santa Cruz

Congratulations to Professor Roxanne Beltran for being selected as one of the Ecological Society of America's 2026 fellows!

Año Nuevo State Park
UC Nature
UC Santa Cruz

https://esa.org/blog/2026/04/15/ecological-society-of-america-announces-2026-fellows/

Año Nuevo State Park is re-opening their seal viewing areas after being closed due to the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak. We're entering the juvenile and female molt seasons - so, there is a lot to see out there!

Año Nuevo elephant seal viewing to resume after avian flu cases wane Año Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County will once again allow the public access to viewing elephant seals on Saturday.