WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: A sight you don’t need to worry about

(Photos by David Hutchinson)

From a distance, if you saw those dark protrusions offshore, you might have wondered if they were orcas. If you watched for a while and noticed they didn’t seem to be moving, you might fear something worse. Someone in fact called Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network on Friday afternoon, worried what they were seeing was a dead whale. Nope – “a small group of California Sea Lions thermoregulating,” explains David Hutchinson of SSMMSN. Here’s a closer look:

We’ve reported on this before – almost every winter – the behavior is also known as “sailing.” Nothing to worry about. But if you do see a marine mammal on the beach – or appearing to be in distress offshore – the Seal Sitters hotline is 206-905-7325 (905-SEAL).

6 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: A sight you don't need to worry about"

  • Why October 29, 2022 (9:55 pm)

    But what does that mean?

  • Kersti Elisabeth Muul October 30, 2022 (8:01 am)

    Thank you. I have gotten a half dozen calls this week alone.Chula are running and so are the juvenile male sea lions 

  • Sailor'sFriend October 30, 2022 (10:29 am)

    “Chula are running and so are the juvenile male sea lions.”
    Okay,  Google has failed, nor a pinniped pedant.
    So please Kersti,
    ‘unpack’ that sentence? 

    • Kersti Elisabeth Muul October 30, 2022 (1:02 pm)

      My phone autocorrected to a client’s name. That should say CHUM

  • Lp October 30, 2022 (11:20 am)

    Oh! That’s interesting. Thank you. 😊 

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