The Guadalupe fur seal was once thought to be extinct until the surprise discovery of a group of seals in a cave on Guadalupe Island off the coast of Mexico. Since then, this species has made a slow but promising recovery thanks to legal protections and conservation efforts.
The Guadalupe fur seal is a member of the eared seal family and has strong flippers that allow them not only to swim but effectively walk on land. Females typically weigh around 49 kilograms (108 pounds), but males can be about four times that size! While these seals are generally solitary and thought to be non-social at sea, they can be found in small groups on coastal rocky habitats and caves during breeding season. During this time, males will establish a territory occupied by a group of females, which they defend from other males through vocalizations, aggression, and displays.
The Guadalupe fur seal′s breeding ground are almost entirely on Guadalupe Island, though recently they′ve been found on the islands of San Benito and the Northern Channel Islands. Outside of breeding season not much is known of their whereabouts at sea. These seals hunt primarily at night, feeding on squid and small fish.