West Seattle wildlife: Keep watch for seal pups – especially Casey

| How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
Somewhere on a West Seattle beach in the next few days, someone may again encounter Casey the pup, who was guarded by Seal Sitters volunteers today, and if you see Casey – or another pup – they want to be sure you call their hotline, 206-905-SEAL. Robin Lindsey tells Casey’s story:

Seal Sitters watched over a too-thin pup at Lincoln Park today, the pup returning to the water about 12:30 with the incoming tide. We anticipate that the pup will show up today or tomorrow on another beach or possibly again at the Park. This is an extremely challenging time for seal pups, either newly weaned and struggling or, occasionally, still nursing. The pup we had just a few weeks ago, Georgie, was definitely a nursing age pup and only perhaps a day or so old. We were not able to determine approximate age on today’s pup, nicknamed Casey, because we never got a look at the teeth via a yawn. The number of erupted teeth would let us know at least for sure if the pup was weaned.

We can’t thank Betsy and Judy enough for calling the hotline and keeping the pup safe until we arrived. Apparently there were a couple of off leash dogs near the pup when he was discovered. I know we say it over and over again, but dogs are a tremendous danger to weak and vulnerable seal pups – just within the past couple of weeks an off leash dog killed a pup on one of the area’s islands.

This is the beginning of the high season when pups will visit the shores of South Puget Sound beaches. September and October are typically our busiest months with weaned pups seeking sanctuary on shore. Our motto is “Share the Shore” – we hope West Seattle people will do so and give these little pups a slightly better chance of survival than the 50 percent norm. Seal Sitters MMSN so appreciates the support of our community!

You can find Casey’s story, and much more, on the Seal Sitters’ blubberblog.

ADDED: One more thing Seal Sitters hope you will keep in mind – There are spots around the sound where the pups are being born, and they too need to be respected and protected; boats and other watercraft can wreak a lot of havoc in these spots (which aren’t in West Seattle, but you or someone you know may use those waters). Read about that here.

FromTheSchoolofAboveAverageIdeas August 12, 2012 (7:42 pm)

What a lovely shot of a handsome pup. Thanks Robin.

Btw, I gently educated/scolded a fellow with two sweet dogs on the LP beach last week. He had an older golden lab and the other was a black mix with a missing front paw. He said he walked from Upper Gatewood for ten years and never been ticketed for dogs swimming off leash. He said there were no seals, when I pointed to the SS sign the dogs were playing in front of. I said he just has not seen them yet, but they are definitely around.

I will say this. If anyone recognizes the accented man or dogs, ask him to stop letting his dogs loose there. The sense of entitlement by local neighbors with dogs to violate that protected beach is obnoxious and careless. I gave him three legal, alternative off-leash swimming locations in the Seattle/Metro area to swim his dogs. Maybe SS could publish that same info too as a PSA. Or work with COLA to promote their existence??? Just a thought.

Anyway, sweet pic.

LongTimer WS August 12, 2012 (9:13 pm)

Off lease dogs are a big problem AND their owners don’t care!!!
Wish city would do something about them. Could make some money by fining them! And, owners are deviant, obnoxious, disrespectful. I have pointed out the beaches are not an off leash area and get defiant posturing.
Yes, cute picture.

G August 12, 2012 (10:02 pm)

We have the same problem in Schmitz Park, by owners who let their dogs roam free. A small well-behaved dog a few yards off the leash, no biggie. But big dogs crashing around the park? No.

No one wants to be a cop. Just follow the rules.

David Hutchinson August 12, 2012 (10:51 pm)

TheSchoolofAboveAverageIdeas & LongTimer WS:
.
Thanks for helping spread the word and for your suggestions. Seal Sitters, per our agreement with NOAA, is responsible for responding to marine mammals on all West Seattle beaches from Brace Point through the Duwamish River. Each year, we have had issues with off leash dogs on the public beaches, and the scenarios you mentioned sound very familiar.
.
Unfortunately, rules without effective enforcement always tend to be ignored.

2 Much Whine August 13, 2012 (7:33 am)

Some folks prefer canine pups over seal pups.

Scott Schaefer August 13, 2012 (10:38 pm)

I believe I spotted (and photographed) Casey Monday night (Aug. 13) on the north beach in Burien’s Three Tree Point neighborhood:

http://b-townblog.com/2012/08/13/photos-seal-pup-spotted-on-north-beach-of-buriens-three-tree-point-monday/

Robin Lindsey reviewed the pics and said “It looks like it is indeed Casey.”

I have called the MaST Center, which handles reports in the Burien area.

Will check to see if here’s there in the am.

Ajax August 14, 2012 (10:37 pm)

I’m a long-time dog rescuer and absolutely adore dogs. The arrogant, entitled attitude of people who let their dogs run amok to endanger other animals and people disgusts me. Take your dog to an off-leash park or buy/rent a house with a fenced yard. The enjoyment of your (or my) dogs is no more important than the rights of others, regardless of whether they have 2 or 4 legs.

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