FROM SEAL SITTERS: Sad start to pupping season; two chances to help

May 14, 2019 11:57 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

The photo and report are from David Hutchinson on behalf of Seal Sitters Marine Stranding Network:

Seal Sitters’ 2019 harbor seal “pupping season” got off to an early and sad start this past Saturday. Harbor seal pups in our area of Puget Sound are normally born from late June – September. Our Hotline (206-905-7325) received a call from a resident along Beach Drive, reporting what appeared to be a seal pup along with two other seals on an offshore raft. It was later determined that the pup was deceased and it was retrieved at low tide, after the two larger seals had left. It was then taken to the WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations facility for a necropsy. We received a preliminary report today that the pup weighed 4.5 kg (10 lbs.), was 62 cm (24 in) in length and most likely was a “3rd trimester stillborn”. Further tests are planned, funded by Seal Sitters. For additional details, please see this link.

Also, you have two upcoming chances to volunteer on behalf of local wildlife and a healthier Puget Sound:

If you are interested in volunteering with Seal Sitters, our next training session has been scheduled for Saturday, June 15th. Seating is limited so an RSVP is required. Please use (this link) for more details, including instructions on how to RSVP.

Also: Seal Sitters along with our neighboring network Sno-King Marine Mammal Response and SR3 are co-sponsoring our annual Alki Beach cleanup on Saturday, June 29th. For more details and for instructions on how to RSVP (requested, but walkups are also welcome) for this event, please use (this link).

sgs May 15, 2019 (8:36 am)

Will or has Seal Sitters expanded to Vashon by any chance?

David Hutchinson May 15, 2019 (3:00 pm)

Thanks for your interest. The NOAA Stranding Network partner for Vashon Island is the Vashon Hydrophone Project: (206)-463-9041. For contact information for all Puget Sound networks operating under NOAA, use the following link: NOAA Marine Mammal Stranding Network Maps and Area Contacts The maps and contact information are at the bottom of the page in PDF format. While all the different groups operating in Puget Sound are part of NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, each group functions separately and provides its own training. Seal Sitters’ territory is West Seattle, from Brace Point through the Duwamish River, including Harbor Island. Our training would only qualify you to volunteer within that area.

Sorry, comment time is over.