By David Rosen

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Seal Sitters are keeping a close eye on a baby seal pup that has perched itself on the beach North of Seacrest Park in West Seattle on September 16.

The area around the seal pup is taped off by the Seal Sitters so that no one can disturb or scare it.

The seal pup has moved around quite a bit in the past few days. Just the other day the seal pup was around the Don Armeni boat launch along Harbor Avenue but apparently decided it was too noisy so it left and ended up on the beach South of Seacrest Park.

The main reason why the seal pups rest on the beach is so that they can get their much-needed rest and also to get warm from the rocks that the sun heats up. They are often left alone for long periods of time until their mother returns for them.

Never handle a baby seal pup. Touching a marine mammal is a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Seal pups are wild animals and can cause severe bites. They can also carry diseases that are transmittable to humans. You should never move one either because if they are not weaned and the mother can’t find them, the seal pup will die.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends at least 100 yards at a minimum to stay away from the seal pup but due to the proximity of the location in West Seattle, Seal Sitters make their best judgment on where to tape off the area.

If you see a seal pup on the beach: Leave it alone. It’s a federal offence if you touch, move, or feed it. Human encroachment can stress the pup and scare the mother and other adult seals away. Do not wrap a pup in blankets (seals are protected by blubber and blankets will cause it to overheat.)
Do not try to feed a pup. (Incorrect feeding can cause a pup to die.) Do not try to force a pup into the water. Leash your dog and keep it off the beach. Off-leash dogs are seals number-one predator.

Call the experts for help! If you see a seal pup on the beach, call Seal Sitters.

West Seattle seal sightings: Seal Sitters dispatch: 206-905-7325


For all other reports, call the Local NOAA stranding hotline: 206-526-6733


In an emergency — if a seal pup is being attacked by people, dogs or is in other grave danger call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964, or local law enforcement at 911.

You can check out the previous articles about the Seal Sitters signage below:

http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/07/07/news/new-seal-sitters-signs…

http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/07/24/news/seal-sitters-banners-g…