This summer, you may encounter more than shells, seaweed and sand on a stroll along the beach. It’s currently pupping season in the Pacific Northwest, so seal pup sightings become increasingly common on marinas, beaches, piers and anywhere else near the water.
Even though it may be tempting to want to approach the cute creatures, experts warn that for their safety and yours, you should keep your distance.
Coming ashore helps seal pups regulate their temperature, and sometimes they come ashore to rest or nurse. Their mothers may leave them on the beach, and if humans get too close, they may not come back for their pups, according to Anna Schwabe, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and supervisor with Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Services.
She advised those who see a seal pup or any other dead or injured marine mammal to call the Whatcom Humane Society Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 360-966-8845.
“All marine mammal stranding responses in our jurisdiction must come through us, so responses cannot happen without calling that number,” Schwabe wrote in an email to The Northern Light, adding that people should leave a voicemail if nobody is available to take their call.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration asks people to maintain at least 100 yards distance from marine mammals, and touching, moving or attempting to provide care for them is illegal.
“Sometimes animals that appear injured or abandoned are not and do not need our help, and trying to move the animal to a ‘better’ location can cause injury or abandonment,” Schwabe said.
Additionally, marine mammals, dead or alive, can carry diseases that are transmittable to humans and their pets.
To report sightings in other areas of Washington, call the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 866-767-6114. NOAA provides additional information about marine mammal sightings at bit.ly/4oBxiW6.
Schwabe said people who call to report a seal pup likely will be asked to provide a location and a photo, but please resist the urge to take a selfie with the animal. Instead, opt for a zoomed-in photo from an appropriate distance.
