Santa Rosa Island
General Information
The second largest island within the Channel Islands National Park, Santa Rosa Island is 85% grasslands. On this island you will also find rolling hills and flat marine terraces located at the bottom of high mountains with deeply cut canyons. The west end of this island consists of rocky terraces while on the east end you will find coastal marshes. These marshes contain the most extensive freshwater habitats of any other channel island. Kelp beds surround Santa Rosa Island (State Parks).
Northern elephant seals first began hauling out on Santa Rosa Island in 1965 with the first pup discovered in 1985. During that first year, 2 pups were counted. Two or three pups were spotted between 1985 and 1989, then in 1990 27 were found and in 1991, 73 were counted (Stewart et al, 1994). According to Stewart et.al (1994), colonization of this island is believed to be caused by a 9.3% annual growth rate and an eastward expansion.
Channel Islands General
Santa Rosa Home Page