The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is an excellent wildlife sanctuary encompassing 965 acres in the beautiful California coastal city of Seal Beach. Though it's located within Orange County it's still included as a part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex

It was created in 1972 by former California governor Ronald Reagan as an offshore refuge for seals, whales and other sea-life. Seals are protected in this area due to their population of food and other sea life. This is also one of the few places in California where you can see a breeding female black-sheep. In fact, the seal beach national wildlife refuge is home to about one-hundred seals. The Seal Beach coastline is also a popular surfing destination because the rocky cliffs give surfers an exciting adventure.

Because Seal Beach is located within a national wildlife refuge the access to the facility is by guided tour only. There are a couple of small reasons for this restriction. Seal Beach is home to a large percentage of migratory birds that breed along the California coast. Therefore, if there was widespread public access there would be a problem with the migratory bird population if other birds were to take up residence in the refuge. Another reason is that Seal Beach is a military base which prohibits access to the wildlife refuge for non-military related activities.

In addition to the endangered species protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, the seal beach national wildlife refuge encompasses three miles of California coastal waters. It is also home to various Pacific gray whales, sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles, pelicans, and other species that are protected by the state of California. The approximately three miles of California coastline is home to numerous other marine species as well including harbor porpoises, sea horses, long jays, albatrosses, turtles, and several other sea animals.

If you are looking for a unique family trip there are seal beach tours available to fit any occasion or lifestyle. If you are traveling as a family or group of friends there are various packages available to accommodate everyone in your party. When you visit the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge you will have the opportunity to explore both the coastal and inland habitat of this unique and amazing community. One of the easiest ways to learn about and enjoy the habitat is to take one of the guided tours that are available. Guided tours offer everyone in your group the chance to explore both the coastal and inland habitat of the refuge and learn about the many species of animals, plants, and birds.

The seal beach is not only a beautiful scenic location to visit on a vacation but is also an important habitat for a variety of different marine species. The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and its habitat are essential to the conservation of many species. This refuge also provides a valuable link to the local communities around the coast so they can be connected to the state and federal agencies who are responsible for managing the wildlife on-site. This makes the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge an even more valuable and unforgettable place to visit while on vacation in Southern California.

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