WILDLIFE: Abandoned newborn harbor-seal pup rescued

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

The photos and report are from David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:

On Wednesday, Seal Sitters’ volunteers responded to the first harbor seal pup in West Seattle this 2020 pupping season. Early in the morning our Hotline received a report of a small pup swimming by the steps along the Alki promenade. The pup, nicknamed “Echo”, finally settled on one of the lower steps.

While Seal Sitters is the official NOAA stranding network for West Seattle, we partner with other groups to provide specialized health evaluations and care. SR3 (headquartered in Des Moines) sent their vet to do a visual assessment. Echo still had an umbilical stump present. This usually dries up and falls off by a week to 10 days after birth, so this was a very young pup. A seal pup’s best chance for survival is always with its mother, so it was decided to monitor Echo throughout the day in hopes that she might reunite with her mother at some point. The chances of a pup being abandoned due to disturbance is much higher in a busy urban environment. After many hours of rest, Echo returned to the water with the rising tide around 5:00 that evening and after a brief detour as far as the Alki Bathhouse, was seen swimming offshore to the west toward the Alki Lighthouse.

On Thursday morning, Echo was reported on a private beach west of the promenade. With the consent of the property owner, Seal Sitters responded and watched over the pup until the arrival of SR3 staff. The pup appeared thinner and there was no evidence of an attending mother. Because of this, it was decided to remove Echo and transport her to PAWS for rehab. Seal Sitters received a report yesterday morning from PAWS – Echo is female, just under 30 inches long and weighs a bit less than 20 pounds. She arrived at their facility thin and dehydrated and the hope is that she will do well in rehab.

Harbor seal pupping season is from late June through September in our area, so you may come across more pups on our West Seattle beaches over the next few months. This is typical behavior as they need to rest and warm up. Please remember to keep back and ask others to do the same. Always keep dogs on a leash and at a distance. As soon as possible, contact Seal Sitters’ Hotline at 206-905-7325.

The request in bold is extremely important – another wildlife advocate told us about Echo just before we heard from Seal Sitters, and noted that spectators were way too close and abundant when she was at the public beach, which could have led to her mother abandoning her.

SLJ July 25, 2020 (11:22 am)

Thank you Seal Sitters for looking out for our local wildlife. I really wish dog owners could be more responsible and keep their dogs off the beach. You may not see a seal in the water, but the seal may see the dog running around and avoid the beach. And yes, I have a dog and keep him on a leash at all times. I’m sure he’d love to run on the beach but that’s just part of being an urban dog owner.

CL July 25, 2020 (4:18 pm)

fyi, dogs whether leashed or unleashed are not allowed on any saltwater beaches in Seattle as a protection to the ecosystem.

jim July 25, 2020 (11:55 am)

That is one cute seal pup. Wish her the best of luck growing up

anonyme July 25, 2020 (12:13 pm)

Echo is the most beautiful seal pup I’ve ever seen. How tragic that the actions of stupid humans caused her to be abandoned. My own species disgusts me most of the time.

echoechoecho July 25, 2020 (12:30 pm)

so glad to read this update as i saw her on weds morning and noticed the umbilical cord so realized how young she was. at that point, seal sitters had thankfully already roped off the stairs and she was just sun bathing peacefully. i am glad she is in good hands and stands a chance of being returned to the puget sound when she is stronger and more physically fit to fish and fend for herself. thanks, seal sitters!

randy July 25, 2020 (1:14 pm)

Proverbs 12:10The righteous care for the needs of their animals

newnative July 25, 2020 (1:53 pm)

my partner said he didn’t know why people were crowding around until he saw the orange cones and a sign telling people to stay away from the pup. So, these were people knowingly getting too close to the pup (and to each other).

Marianne July 25, 2020 (2:13 pm)

Thanks to everyone involved in watching over and helping this seal baby.

Just wondering July 25, 2020 (3:00 pm)

Why the name “Echo”?

sgs July 25, 2020 (4:05 pm)

I’d love to hear from one of those that were too curious and too close to the pup, about why they did that. Did not know? Did not see signs? Thought it wouldn’t make a difference? This happened on Vashon a couple of years ago, no signs, but everyone should know to stay away, or monitor from afar. So important to give wildlife space in this urban setting. Same goes for people who go out in low tide and have to poke anything living with their sticks or fingers. Why?

Ajax July 26, 2020 (12:47 am)

Just guessing from my many observations and interactions with the humans, not raised right and not caring about anything other than themselves (part of not being raised right).

sgs July 25, 2020 (4:06 pm)

I’d love to hear from one of those that were too curious and too close to the pup, about why they did that. Did not know? Did not see signs? Thought it wouldn’t make a difference? Everyone should have the common sense to stay away or monitor from afar. So important to give wildlife space in this urban setting. Same goes for people who go out in low tide and have to poke anything living with their sticks or fingers. Why?