West Seattle wildlife: Rafting off Alki

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Thanks to Bob Spears for the photo of an unusual scene Friday off Alki. He explained, “Five seals hung out just offshore for over an hour and frequently appeared to be doing a water ballet with their heads, a single fin, and their tails out of the water. Fun to watch and with their barking they attached quite a crowd of people on the beach.” The behavior is known as “rafting,” most often seen among California sea lions, and sometimes people mistake it for a sign of distress – the Seal Sitters website has a good explanation here.

4 Replies to "West Seattle wildlife: Rafting off Alki"

  • justme November 26, 2016 (8:07 am)

    I love it when you include interesting bits of nature knowledge here!

  • BA November 26, 2016 (10:58 am)

    We saw them yesterday as well.  So cool.   I believe they might be sea lions and not seals though.    

  • WSB November 26, 2016 (11:00 am)

    Yes, they are definitely California sea lions. Can’t mistake those faces. We saw two fishing off the condo stretch of the Alki seawall a week or so ago – salmon season for them as well as orcas. – TR

  • Lou December 5, 2016 (2:26 pm)

    There has been a large group next to the ferry terminal  in Seattle for over a week.

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