A seal pup nicknamed Seacil has been charming passersby and volunteers for the past few days along the shore of Elliott Bay. The pup periodically snacks on what appears to be a bounty of tiny fish just offshore and then returns to rest on craggy rocks that comprise the seawall - usually just after high tide. Trying to snooze at the water’s edge is not always uneventful, however. Shown here, Seacil has hauled out at high tide, only to be engulfed in a series of waves from a freighter headed out into Puget Sound from the Port of Seattle. Undaunted, the pup held fast and then nonchalantly settled in for a very long nap. It’s hard to imagine complaining about a lumpy mattress when you watch pups trying to find a comfy spot to sleep on jagged rocks!

With several days of beautiful weather, Seal Sitters had an opportunity to educate many hundreds of people walking and biking the Alki Trail. Volunteers cheerily spread some blubber-love and distributed stickers to fascinated children. Finally, we have a vibrant pup to protect after such a dreary start to our season in West Seattle.

On Saturday morning, a second pup named Kazoo (at left) rested briefly on the same stretch of rocks along with Seacil. It was our first sighting of both pups.

Another highlight to the week was continuing to ensure that our little ghost of a pup, Pumpkin, is safe at night. She comes ashore after dark each evening, returning before first light. We have only seen the tiny white pup a few times, but always see her tracks in the sand very early each morning. Access to the small beach is closed off each night at dark and the tape is removed the next morning, after checking to make sure she has returned to the Sound.

Tags: Seacil, Pumpkin, Kazoo