They gather in these shallow protected waters to give birth and feed. January 1, 2017. Just offshore from Moss Landing is the Monterey Canyon, as deep as the Grand Canyon. Today, there's almost 140 sea otters in the Elkhorn Slough and roughly 60 percent of the otters are direct descendants of the Monterey Bay Aquarium surrogacy program. Southern sea otters are primarily found just south of San Francisco to Santa Barbara County, and at Elkhorn Slough, there are over a hundred. Many of these animals are released into the calm water of Elkhorn Slough. Support our OtterCams! Elkhorn Slough at Moss Landing is a 20 minute drive north from Monterey. The best place to encounter a sea otter in its natural habitat is out on the water! Visit our OtterCams and start recording your observations! By using this site, you agree to the use of cookies by Flickr and our partners as described in our cookie policy. They are often abundant during the fall. This expansive estuary explodes with life, and even better, it's really easy to see it. These boat cruises include an in-depth look at various aspects of . Kids love clambering aboard a 27-foot open-air pontoon boat with Elkhorn Slough Safari to poke around the slough, learning why sea otters thrive in this protected habitat—meaty clams and other sea-otter favorites thrive here. The best time to kayak is in the morning, though, before the wind picks up. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Kayaking upon the water we spotted the swimming mushrooms and the old barking mermaid, which whacked the bottom of my vessel. The otters are here all year round. Uriel O. Garcia Sea Otter Foraging in Elkhorn Slough Spring 2012 5 Visibility at the research site varied from bad, to good and excellent. The Slough's habitat is a year-round home for marine mammals', fish and it is an attraction spot for migratory birds. 2. Those 30 or so otters seeded the current population of around 3,000. Pup is dry and warm, snuggled up on mom's belly as she…" Other things to see are the aquarium, 17 mile drive, wondering in Carmel valley, point lobos, and big sur. The tour will provide excellent opportunities to view and photograph wildlife close at hand. Here's what Trippy members say about Elkhorn Slough: "If you visit the monterey peninsula I love the Elkhorn Slough estuary boat tour." See More "You can either take a whale watching cruise or see otters at Elkhorn Slough, visit 17 Mile Dr see Point Lobos State Reserve, and drive through Big Sur down to Santa Barbara." See More Source: Google satellite maps. We'll explore the Slough's tidal creeks learning about it's unique ecology and stop for a picnic on shore. Its a quieter area with less buildings and commercial boat traffic. Rent a kayak or take an Elkhorn Slough Safari tour to observe these marvelous animals in action. Elkhorn Slough also features six miles of hiking trails traversing salt marsh habitats, oak forests . Kids love clambering aboard a 27-foot open-air pontoon boat with Elkhorn Slough Safari to poke around the slough, learning why sea otters thrive in this protected habitat—meaty clams and other sea-otter favourites thrive here. This safari tour across Elkhorn Slough is one adventure that should be on your radar if you love marine animals. Elkhorn Slough Safari — A secure, convenient way to book your Sea Otter Eco Tour in Monterey Bay's Elkhorn Slough REGULAR DAILY TOUR FARES ADULTS $43 SENIORS (65 and older) $40 CHILDREN (ages 3-12) $33 (831) 633-5555 Advance reservations guaranteed by a credit card are REQUIRED. Glide cleanly and quietly while you see otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and a diverse population of birds, as the Elkhorn Slough is part of the Pacific Flyway. Moss Landing is located at "A" pin at center of Monterey Bay coastline. A "bad" visibility day was on days in which the visibility was less than 100m, or could see about halfway into the slough. by Elizabeth Devitt. Sea otters frolic in the Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing. Nearly 50,000 tourists visit every year to birdwatch, spot the charismatic sea otters, and kayak on the slough's vibrant waters. The first clip shows the seagrass beds of Elkhorn Slough. — Lily Janiak Kayak Connection: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.. You will most likely see more than one! It was stagnant, it was clouded and it was a much less vibrant ecosystem. This arm has a bend in it as it extends inland, and at the "elbow" lies the reserve. From our store in North Harbor, you paddle inland into a tidal Estuarine Reserve. For sure, harbor seals are cute and curious, and there were dozens of them hauled out on a mud bar on the north side of the slough. Otters in rafts often sleep side-by-side, wrapped up in strands of kelp, so that they don't drift far from each other. The Elkhorn Slough Safari is a pontoon boat that can accommodate 24 people , in a 11/2-2 hour trip up the slough. The Elkhorn Slough is one of the top 10 wildlife viewing destinations in the nation. Elkhorn Slough Safari — The Elkhorn Slough is home to the largest population of Sea Otters in California. . Sea otters, harbor seals and an array of seabirds makes the protected water of Elkhorn Slough our most popular sea kayaking destination. (Doug Duran/Bay Area . This expansive estuary explodes with life, and even better, it's really easy to see it. The reserve is owned and managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and it operates in partnership with the federal . Cost was $32 for seniors. The reserve is owned and managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and it operates in partnership with the federal . This must surely have contributed to the Moss Landing population's willingness to be in such close proximity to humans. The Elkhorn Slough Tour provides amazing wildlife viewing aboard the El Cat, an innovative, custom, fully electric catamaran, built right here in Moss Landing by us. With over six miles of navigable waterway inland from the Monterey Bay, the Elkhorn slough is the largest tidal salt marsh in California outside of the San Francisco Bay.. No other tidal estuary of its beauty and magnitude exists along the coastline today, making it a must see if you are visiting the Central . The estuary is home to 12 otter pups of varying ages . Join Elkhorn Slough Reserve TOMORROW at 5:30pm to learn more about iNaturalist, a social network for naturalists, and how it's been used by local researchers to answer questions about California's. This is one of the prime places to see the endangered California Southern Sea Otter, more than 125 individuals of sea otters are populating Elkhorn Slough's waters. The iconic Highway 1 crosses directly over the mouth of… "The slough," as it is affectionately called, is home to a diverse and abundant population of migratory birds, fish, harbor seals and Southern sea otters. Specialties: Elkhorn Slough Safari ™ is an exciting way to visit Elkhorn Slough! In addition to looking for solo sea otters swimming through the water, keep . Elkhorn Slough is the home of countless marine animals and plants near Moss Landing. Ottercam 1 Ottercam 1 is located in a salt marsh with pickleweed covered islands and quiet waterways, perfect habitat for observing otters and their young. By the 1930s, the otter was thought extinct from over-hunting, so biologists had reason to celebrate when a small population was seen near Big Sur. Every time I have gone kayaking along the slough, I have seen sea otters. The southern sea otter's range extends from Half Moon Bay south to Gaviota, near Santa Barbara. The Elkhorn Slough NERR is "one of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves established nationwide as field laboratories for scientific research and estuarine education. By using this site, you agree to the use of cookies by Flickr and our partners as described in our cookie policy. Moss Landing is the best place to see Sea otters, but they can also be seen in and around the habor at Monterey. The tour will provide excellent opportunities to view and photograph wildlife close at hand. Elkhorn Slough Safari tours are offered year round thanks to our mild coastal climate and ever present wildlife. Moss Landing >> Sleepy sea otters piling onto pads of pickleweed in Elkhorn Slough are causing quite a stir.A partnership between local researchers and dedicated citizen scientists is researc… $53 per person. Enjoy a narrated cruise along the Elkhorn Slough, a vibrant and lively wetland located on Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Monterey in Moss Landing. Other fascinating sightings include throngs of harbor seals hauled up on . First, we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, then the Sea Otter Classic (some shots here), then wrapped up with a day otter spotting at the Elkhorn Slough.We got to see a lot of otters, birds, harbor seals, sea lions, and even jellies at the Slough. Summer is great time to visit and escape the heat of the Bay Area. During spring, you can see large groups of California sea lions and hundreds of harbor seals loafing along the shore. The Elkhorn Slough Tour provides amazing wildlife viewing aboard the El Cat, an innovative, custom, fully electric catamaran, built right here in Moss Landing by us. It's low tide at Moss Landing and the mudflats add a sulfur scent to the salty air. we saw lots of each, with the otters being the most interesting. As a seven mile tidal slough and estuary it is a must see for nature and animal lovers.. We were first introduced to the slough on a kayak tour last year. $125 per person/per month Skip the gym and go outside!Paddling is an excellent total body workout with the added bonus of being out in a beautiful, natural environment. These boat cruises include an in-depth look at various aspects of slough ecology . Other fascinating sightings include throngs of harbor seals hauled up on . But look at this video below - you can hear them "talking" to each other. Suited for all ages, you can see the sea lions and otters how they're meant to be seen - in the beautiful wild! 49 Likes, 1 Comments - Elkhorn Slough Safari (@elkhornsloughsafari) on Instagram: "Here's your Monday Morning Otter Shot. Saturday, April 23 at 6:45AM. Other fascinating sightings include throngs of harbour seals hauled up on . Get up close and personal with sea otters and seals by kayaking right along side them in the Elkhorn Slough Conservation Area at Moss Landing. The attraction is to see sea otters, seals, sea lions, and, of course, birds. The result: Almost 60% of the 140 or so sea otters living in Elkhorn Slough today are there as a result of the Aquarium's sea otter surrogacy program. A population of over one hundred otters calls Elkhorn Slough and Monterey Bay home. 5 people~ $100 per person for a private day on the water, 6 or more the above rates apply Sea otters are without a doubt the most popular animal here at the slough. #1 of 8 things to do in Moss Landing Nature & Parks, Nature & Wildlife Areas Moss Landing, CA Save Book In Advance Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Tour 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours From $43.00* Highway 1 Self-Driving Audio Tour (Pacific Coast Highway) Cultural Tours From $15.00* Monterey & Big Sur Discovery 2-Day Tour from San Francisco Multi-day Tours . Elkhorn Slough Safari is an exciting way to visit Elkhorn Slough. During whale migration, we may include a hike out to the beach in search of whales. Herb and I are headed about twenty miles north on Highway 1 for a photo safari on Elkhorn Slough (pronounced sloo ), a seven-mile estuary at the edge of Monterey Bay. The dedicated volunteers noticed the presence of the sea otters, and then became an integral part of the monitoring team during the multi-year study. Additionally, there are more than 100 southern sea otters residing at Elkhorn Slough. That said, we only saw about half a dozen, which goes back to my comment about the crowds: we started our tour later than we wanted, about 11.30 am. The Slough has abundant wildlife and birds year-round but since you asked: Spring and fall will bring more abundant birds as they migrate. Sea otters are the main attraction in the slough and we were told by our tour guide that about 125 adult animals make Elkhorn Slough their home. Otters in rafts often sleep side-by-side, wrapped up in strands of kelp, so that they don't drift far from each other. Tours last approximately 1.5 to 2 hours and can usually be scheduled any day of the week. The Elkhorn Slough (pronounced sloo )is one of California's largest wetlands and is part of a National Estuarine Research Reserve. You will see a fantastic variety of wildlife such as playful sea otters, curious harbor seals, sea lions, hundreds of species of birds and so much more. Since otters need to eat upwards of 25% (a nursing mother needs about 50%) of their body weight in food each day you will probably see otters diving and hunting for food. Since the 1950s, more than 90 percent of California's estuaries and coastal marshes have been destroyed, making Elkhorn Slough all the more vital. What's Included We have a naturalist on board to assist in wildlife spotting, providing insight into the natural wonders of the Slough, and to answer any questions. Playful sea otters, curious harbor seals, boisterous sea lions, and hundreds of bird species abound as you explore one of California's most spectacular wetlands aboard a stable, 27 foot, U.S. Coast Guard inspected pontoon boat. A close-up of California's vibrant coastline at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary venturing into the ecosystem's species We decided to go again on a self guided trip by renting our own kayaks. (5) Elkhorn Slough National Estuary This is THE place to see harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters and dozens of pelicans and other water birds in their natural habitat. ‎Elkhorn Slough contains the 3rd largest extent of salt marsh in California and supports extraordinary biodiversity. Kids love clambering aboard a 27-foot open-air pontoon boat with Elkhorn Slough Safari to poke around the slough, learning why sea otters thrive in this protected habitat—meaty clams and other sea-otter favorites thrive here. Learn more about Southern sea otters. Luckily for us, Northern California is rich with opportunities to see animals in their natural setting. Elkhorn Slough is home to as many as 5% of all the sea otters off the coast of California. This expansive estuary about 25 miles south of Santa Cruz in Monterey County explodes with life, and even better, it's really easy to see it. The otters are adorable and are ALWAYS watching. It is in this estuary habitat that researchers have observed sea otter behavior not seen in other sea otter populations. The Elkhorn Slough (pronounced "slew") is home to the world's largest population of Southern Sea Otters, and from the comfort of our stable, 27' pontoon boat, you can see them caring for their adorable Otter pups year round. Estuarine Reserve deep as the Grand Canyon aquarium, 17 mile drive, wondering Carmel... You might see harbor seals in San Francisco Bay any day of the.... Salt marsh habitats, oak forests area have helped this local population thrive though overall, species... 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