The rookery exploded in size from the early 1990s that noted only 25 seals during a scientific count to well over a thousand by the turn of the century. The location went from an overlooked cove/beach 2 miles from Hearst Castle on the California Central Coast, to major wildlife-viewing area. Growth was chaotic. Cars were parked along the road, stopping traffic both ways. People would trample though the delicate sand dunes by the hundreds hoping to get better views of these seals. Visitors routinely did a Fish & Game Officers worse nightmareHey honey, put little Johnny right next to that 5,000 lb seal so I can get their picture together. Theres something about modern mans evolution that has totally removed common caution from most, average tourists. I kind of think its Darwins laws trying to lean the gene pool. Anyway, drastic measures were needed and executed just at the beginning of the new millennium. The PCH was movedno small feat in California about 50 feet away from the coast, a large parking lot was setup to minimize the traffic congestion, fences were installed to detour average tourists from trooping through the dunes, and a large educational sign effort was established at the beach to inform the small visitorsour touristsabout the animals that called this place home five months a year.

A big part of the educational effort was done by a non-profit organization called the Friends of the Elephant Seals. Their goal was to manage and educated all viewers of the beach during peak season while simultaneously protecting man from himself and the seals from man. Its a thankless job but well worth the effort.