The Northern Elephant Seal is a large marine mammal found along the Pacific coast of North America. Males can weigh up to 4,500 pounds, while females are smaller, averaging around 1,500 pounds. They are known for their distinctive large noses, especially the males, which resemble an elephant's trunk. These seals spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore primarily for breeding and molting. Northern Elephant Seals are excellent divers, capable of reaching depths of over 5,000 feet in search of food, primarily fish and squid. They were once hunted to near extinction in the 19th century, but conservation efforts have helped their population recover significantly. Today, they can be seen on beaches from California to Alaska.