Where do northern elephant seals live?

Northern elephant seals are primarily found in the Pacific coastal waters of North America, ranging from southeastern Alaska down to Baja California. They are most commonly observed on coastal islands located off the coasts of California and Baja California.12

While they spend significant time at sea, these northern elephant seals return to land to breed and molt. Historically, these animals were hunted to the brink of extinction for their oil, but they have since recovered under protection and are no longer considered threatened.2