Table 1. Summary of the experimental design and treatment groups used in this study.

Age Class	Study Year	Animal State	Restraint Type	n
Handling Manipulated Group
Weanling	2008	mid postweaning fast	chemical sedation	5
			physical restraint	5
Yearling	2008	late molting	chemical sedation	7
			unrestrained	6
Field Sedated Group
Weaned Pup	2003	early postweaning fast	chemical sedation	5
		late postweaning fast	chemical sedation	5
Adult Female	2003	early lactation	chemical sedation	5
		late lactation	chemical sedation	7
		late molting	chemical sedation	6
Adult Male	2007	early breeding	chemical sedation	5
		late breeding	chemical sedation	5
		late molting	chemical sedation	5
			total:	66

Measurements were made in four age classes at various times during natural fasts. This study used data from 46 elephant seals and reports cortisol responses for 66 procedures. Samples were collected in three separate years: 2003, 2007, and 2008. The handling manipulation measurements were made in 2008 on weanlings and fully molted yearlings both fasting for approximately 3–4 weeks. Using these handling manipulated animals, we tested the effects of restraint in a paired sample design. To make measurements in an unrestrained condition, yearlings were transported to the animal holding facility at Sonoma State University for both chemical sedation and unrestrained measurements. All other procedures were conducted in the field. Field sedated study groups consisted of weaned pups, measured early and late in their post-weaning fast (less than 2 weeks and over 6 weeks after weaning); adult females were measured early (5 days post-partum) and late in lactation (23 days post-partum). Late molting measurements, of both adult males and females, were made in fully molted animals with estimated fasting durations of 3–4 weeks. Breeding season measurements were made in adult males early (fasting less than 3 weeks) and late (fasting over 2 months) in the season.