Seal Beach, California - Named after the seal.  But you won't find one now, except for Slick.

Seal Beach was once home to seals...that is how it got its name. In fact, there used to be a wall over on the north south side of the beach next to the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station fence that said, "Do not pet the seals (or something to that effect.)   Well the only remembrances of seals in Seal Beach are trash cans with seal designs painted on them, and the pet seal, Slick, that people pet at they wander by this friendly sculpture on the Seal Beach pier.

People used to ponder why the seals left. They wondered how they could get them back. Down the road a ways in Newport Beach, you'll find seals. In fact, you'll hear about how annoying some believe they are.  They eat fishermen's bait, they climb aboard the boat moored in the harbor, and they can even become quite aggressive if human move in too close to their territory. There doesn't seem to be a mystery at all. If you have a harbor with boats, places for seals to bask in the sun out in the water, and fishermen, it's a candidate for seals.

There are a lot of animal lovers in Seal Beach. The city has an animal rescue "pro life" shelter. There's the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge on the Naval Weapons base (tours by appointment). And folks wish they'd see the seals come back to Seal Beach.

For a kid or adult, the Slick sculpture is a friendly seal people love to touch and pet. Kids hop aboard it. Adults like to touch it...Slick is perhaps the most beloved pet in all of Seal Beach. The next time you visit, journey onto the Seal Beach pier at Main Street and Ocean Ave., and see for yourself the icon for which this special city was named.