Elephant seals (sea elephants) are large, oceangoing seals in the genus Mirounga. There are two species: the northern elephant seal(M. angustirostris) and the southern elephant seal (M. leonina). Both were hunted to the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century, but numbers have since recovered. The northern elephant seal which is found in the Channel Islands, is somewhat smaller than its southern relative, ranges over the Pacific coast of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The most northerly breeding location on the Pacific Coast is at Race Rocks, at the southern tip of Vancouver Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult males which resembles an elephant's trunk. The bull's proboscis is used in producing extraordinarily loud roaring noises. The nose acts as a sort of rebreather, filled with cavities designed to reabsorb moisture from the animals' exhalations. This is important during the mating season when the seals do not leave the beach to feed and therefore must conserve body moisture as they have no incoming source of water. Southern elephant seal bulls reach a length of 16 feet and a weight of 6,600 pounds, and are much larger than the cows. Northern elephant seal bulls reach a length of 14 to 16 feet and the heaviest weigh approximately 5400 lbs.