San Simeon.
The former
Santa Maria, Ca., resident told prosecutors that he and another person had driven to an elephant seal viewing area near the Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve that night.
Using .45-caliber pistol, Gerbich shot and killed a northern elephant seal resting on the beach in the
Piedras Blancas rookery, according to the plea agreement.
‘The next day, the elephant seal was discovered on the beach with a bullet hole in its head,’ the court document states.
It’s FriYAY! Piedras Blancas Rookery is the only elephant seal rookery in the world that is easily accessible, free & open to the public every day. Also, it is just down the road from the BLM-managed Piedras Blancas Light Station. #DiscovertheCoast#VisitCaliforniapic.twitter.com/rDW2P3Rrmo