The Olympic Natural Resources Center, 1455 S. Forks Ave., Forks, hosts a talk at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, in the Hemlock Forest Room for a presentation by Rob Wamstad. He was a docent naturalist for 12 years at Año Nuevo State Park, an elephant seal colony near San Francisco, Calif.

He is experienced at leading groups into the colony during breeding season. He has over 1,000 hours observing the animals and their interactions. He also volunteered three years at Point Reyes National Seashore informing visitors about elephant seals and grey whales. He also was an education docent leading tours at a marine mammal hospital and has cared for harbor seal pups.

Here is a taste of what will be shared: “As we approach the colony over the sand dunes, all may appear calm and even sleepy. There is a certain tension in the air around the harems. Bulls are eyeing and tracking bulls in this Alpha male society.

Most noticeable are six types of male behavior: Alpha, Beta, Stocker, Picket, Juvenile, and Don’t Care/Past Caring …”

So begins a guided walk into an elephant seal colony. The journey includes a discussion of the life cycles of these amazing animals, as well as their unusual characteristics and why they are important to current research.

Since the late 1800s whalers had reduced their number to possibly less than a hundred animals at Guadalupe Island off the coast of Mexico. The northern elephant seal has rebounded to slowly building colonies northward, with a recent colony reported on Vancouver Island. Seal visits have been reported in the area of the Salish Sea.

“Evening Talks” at ONRC are supported by the Rosmond Forestry Education Fund, an endowment that honors the contributions of Fred Rosmond and his family to forestry, education, and the Forks Community. Refreshments will be served and a potluck of your favorite dessert is encouraged. For more information, contact Frank Hanson at 360-374-4556 or fsh2@uw.edu.