During the recent government shutdown, Drake's Beach in Northern California remained closed to visitors. But what was bad news for beachgoers and nature lovers turned out to be great news for a group of elephant seals!
60 elephant seals decided to take advantage of the empty beach and make the spot their birthing place. During those 35 days of the shutdown, about
35 seal pups were born!
The problem is that now that the shutdown is over, officials want to open that beach back up.
Sign the petition if you want the beach to stay closed for good so we can give the seals their natural habitat back!The spate of births was really quick, magical and adorable, but also very fragile. Normally the seals would have given birth elsewhere but experts are speculating that recent storms have forced them to find new places to do it.
It's critical that we don't scare, harm or overwhelm the animals. Most of the pups are still nursing with their moms so it's really important they are given time and space to get their pups ready to venture back into the ocean.
And what better way to give them the space they need than to shut down the beach to humans permanently!
We had a good run, but these seals have reclaimed what is rightfully theirs. Please sign the petition to close the beach for good!
