This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
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In downtown San Diego, a group of harbor seals have made their home on a small beach protected behind a seawall. This beach gives them some protection against predation by the sharks that inhabit the waters off the coast of southern California. Meanwhile, human developments continue to push towards the coast. As a result, a battle has been fought between human and seal over the use of that beach. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, this spot is one of only two Southern California mainland beaches where harbor seals give birth.
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