WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Request for you, now that it’s Harbor Seal pupping season

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Beach news from Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:

Pupping season in our part of Puget Sound runs from June – September. Over the next months, beach walkers in West Seattle will very likely come across vulnerable Harbor Seal pups on both our public and private beaches. These young marine mammals are protected by federal law. If you come across a seal pup using the beach, please keep back, keep people and pets away, and call the Seal Sitters Hotline at 206-905-7325.

Seal Sitters is part of NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Our territory is West Seattle, from Brace Point through the Duwamish River, including Harbor Island and the East Waterway. We are responsible for responding to all marine mammals, alive or dead, that end up on our local beaches.

Remember that it is illegal to have a dog on the beach at any of the Seattle Parks beaches in West Seattle, either off or on a leash.

flimflam June 6, 2022 (5:06 pm)

Yet another reason dogs are not permitted on beaches here – yes, even your perfectly behaved little Fluffums.

Auntie June 6, 2022 (6:35 pm)

I think dog-on-beach offenders should be charged double during seal pupping season. What will it take to convince people that “no dogs allowed on beach” actually applies to them?

Agreed June 6, 2022 (10:27 pm)

I recently asked two individuals on the Lincoln Park Beach if they were aware dogs were not allowed. Both responded “I know,” and refused to bring their dogs up to the path. Their entitlement taught me that significantly increased enforcement is the only short term solution.

Vee June 6, 2022 (7:37 pm)

No dogs!!!!! PERIOD and that means everyone

pagefive June 6, 2022 (10:41 pm)

I’m at Lincoln Park nearly every week and I can’t recall a time when I haven’t seen at least one dog owner – usually several – with their dogs on the beach. I agree that there needs to be enforcement of the rules but I also recognize that staffing and funding levels make that challenging. Perhaps prioritizing enforcement during peak times and posting more prominent signage would improve compliance.

Beep June 7, 2022 (8:43 am)

I don’t have a dog, but I enjoy seeing dogs at the beach. It’s so nice for them to swim and cool off. At the same time, I agree that people should respect the well-being of the seals and keep their dogs away from them and give them right-of-way and distance. I think there’s enough shoreline to accomplish both.

Jay June 7, 2022 (9:48 am)

As long as they’re on a leash and can’t physically approach wildlife, and their poop is picked up and bagged immediately, I don’t really see a problem with dogs on the beach. On-leash dogs being banned is more of a formality because it’s hard to enforce the leash laws. But leash laws need to be strictly enforced.
- Mike June 7, 2022 (3:07 pm)
  
  Barking and erratic behavior of dogs will scare seal pups.

Jay June 7, 2022 (9:44 am)

It’s just off-leash dogs that have a major impact, so focusing energy on telling off people walking their dogs on a leash or telling off-leash owners to get off the beach isn’t going to have the same level of effect as saying “get your dog on a leash.” With the latter you’ll probably convince people to do something and stop a dog from mauling a seal baby. With the former you’ll just annoy people and won’t get any level of compliance. Just my $0.02.

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