West Seattle wildlife: ‘Captain’ the seal’s Thanksgiving-week visit

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(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
One more wildlife photo this Thanksgiving night … a seal we got to see for ourselves the other day, driving on our way to something and pulling over upon noticing the unmistakable sign of a Seal Sitters stakeout, a cordoned-off area and a vigilant volunteer. They were out this week even in the worst of the rainy/windy weather on Monday. This time around, they’ve been kept busy by an adult seal nicknamed “Captain.” Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey writes about her on the “blubberblog.” (Robin also has a Thanksgiving message from Seal Sitters that you might want to read.)

westseattledood November 22, 2012 (11:55 pm)

You are making a difference Seal Sitters.

Thank you for the care that each of you have given to these lovely vulnerable creatures.

Thank you also for inspiring so many…to learn more…to make the connections…to share the worry…and the wonder. Thank you.

Thanks.

Sonoma November 23, 2012 (12:02 am)

Thank you, Seal Sitters! You do wonderful work. Now, I have a question: Are the animals we hear on Alki near the water taxi harbor seals or sea lions?

WSB November 23, 2012 (7:01 am)

Sonoma – It’s mostly California sea lions hanging out on the buoy that barges tie up to.

L.A. November 23, 2012 (12:06 am)

Yay seal sitters! Happy Thanksgiving!

Sonoma November 23, 2012 (3:14 pm)

Thanks! So those funny, noisy critters are Californa sea lions! I wonder if anyone has seen a sea lion pup around here.

anti-obstruction November 23, 2012 (7:49 pm)

Great comment, westseattledood! :)

Robin November 24, 2012 (6:55 am)

Seal Sitters can’t thank you enough for your support. It is truly a combined effort that has made our West Seattle shores safer for all wildlife. That is indeed CA sea lions that are so active of late on the buoy and forgaing in Elliott Bay. Male sea lions migrate into our waters, following a food source. We do see some juvenile males in the mix, but to my knowledge have not had a California sea lion pup in Puget Sound since the females do not migrate. Occasionally, there is a Steller sea lion hanging out on the Elliott Bay buoy. Stellers do breed on the islands off our NW Coast and Vancouver Island. They are much lighter in color, much larger and have a distinct “roar” rather than the bark of a CSL (CA sea lion). Steller pups stay with their moms for up to two years – unlike a harbor seal pup, weaned and on their own at 4-6 weeks. We recently assisted WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations Unit in the transfer and release of an abandoned and rehabbed Steller sea lion pup, Mojo (you can read about him on blubberblog.org).
Thanks again for your kind comments and for allowing Captain to gain strength on shore.

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