Seal Sitters’ seal-pup season officially begins with ‘Georgie’

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
Seal Sitters will be on the lookout today for another sighting of the first pup of harbor-seal-pupping season. First responder Robin Lindsey says the pup showed up on West Seattle shores Monday – and she says that brings important reminders for beachgoers:

We received a report of a pup about 1 pm, and our responders arrived within minutes of the call. We found a newborn seal resting in the rocks and dozing peacefully. However, we were told that before we arrived someone had tried to put the pup back into the water. Marine mammals are protected by Federal law (the Marine Mammal Protection Act) and it is illegal to touch, feed, move or disturb a marine mammal.

The pup was nicknamed Georgie by 10-year-old Bob, visiting from LA, who found the pup. His relatives called the hotline. Georgie is very young, possibly only a day or so old. The photo (above) of the pup yawning enabled us to get an idea of the age of the pup. The pup only has two very tiny front teeth and later we did see the umbilicus cord still attached. It is essential that people stay as far away as possible if they see a seal pup. If the pup’s mom sees too many people, dogs or disruption around her pup, she may very well abandon him – a certain death sentence.

Harbor-seal-pupping season is now upon us! We will be integrating new volunteers throughout the season. If folks are interested in volunteering, they should contact us through the website or blog. And if anyone spies a pup, please keep people and dogs away and call our hotline asap @ 206-905-7325 (SEAL).

You can see another photo of Georgie in Robin’s report, here.

MB July 24, 2012 (3:08 am)

They are the CUTEST!!! Wish it wasn’t illegal and dangerous (for them) and we could pet them, they look so snuggly!

Alki Resident July 24, 2012 (7:43 am)

Georgie looks like she’s cracking up.

please help protect nature! July 24, 2012 (9:40 am)

This cute photo is a good reminder for us all to

KEEP DOGS ON LEASH & OFF THE BEACH

… it’s the law, and this is why!

AM July 24, 2012 (11:26 am)

agreed “please help protect nature”! There are off leash dog parks that provide beach access. USE THOSE where it’s legal! not alki :)

MEJ July 24, 2012 (1:08 pm)

Would the Seal Sitters please post Do-Not-Touch-the-Seals notices at each of beach-access stairways west from Anchor Park along Alki Ave. And if vandals remove or tamper with the signs down, put them up again. Every low tide attracts dog owners, and it’s not unreasonable to think that at some point someone’s dog will go after one of the seal pups.

shed22 July 24, 2012 (2:40 pm)

Hey Seal Sitters, perhaps you could smuggle a sweater vest that reads “Do Not Touch” on Georgie when mom’s not looking. That would be super cute!
Of course I am just being “seally”. I am always pleased (and informed) by these pup posts.

Alex July 25, 2012 (10:49 am)

The sweater idea is good, but I think we also need to give these seals the means to defend themselves. You start making the sweater, and I’ll start construction of seal-mounted laser cannons they can use to repel their enemies.

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