In case you needed something adorable to cheer you up after this weekend's political shit show (#NoBanNoWall), know that baby elephant seals are popping up all over the California coast.

Each year, from December through March, colonies of northern elephant seals gather on beaches for their birthing and mating rituals.

The New York Times reported that the breeding colony (called a rookery) at Point Piedras Blancas—about an hour north of San Luis Obispo on Highway 1—had packed in tightly to protect the pups from being swept away by the big waves. The scene can be raucous: Newborn pups squeal, females cry out while giving birth, and floppy-nosed, 2.5-ton males snort and fight for mating and territorial dominance.

To see the action, there are viewing areas at both Piedras Blancas and Año Nuevo State Park, where another big colony gathers north of Santa Cruz. There is also a live webcam if you'd prefer to check out the action from the safety of your desk.