| Species recovery efforts for marine animals are complex and often ineffective, as supported in part by the limited number of species that have been delisted over the past several decades. Among pinnipeds, though, researchers have documented the unparalleled recovery of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), with little active management beyond protecting terrestrial sites. At Point Reyes, California, recovery over the past 35 years has varied from an average annual growth rate of 35% (1981-1995) to around 7% (1995-2017). The Point Reyes National Seashore diligently protects terrestrial habitats where seals breed, molt, and rest. The colony has expanded from a remote cliff-backed beach to adjacent recreational beaches spanning nearly 20 kilometers. Recovery, though, has been uneven, with elevated mortality events associated with high rainfall and El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years and with sub-site differences in annual growth rates. The Seashore is now challenged with how and where to facilitate further potential expansion into sensitive coastal dune habitats where federally listed species such as snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus) occur and into high recreational use areas where human interactions are increasing. |