Things have been a bit quiet on West Seattle beaches the past couple of weeks, but we still have seals and sea lions hanging around. The Alki platform has been heavily used of late by both last year’s pups and adult seals. The two shown here enjoyed a beautiful, sunny morning a few days ago. Weaned pups are much more wary of people and dogs as they get older and offshore platforms such as this one, provide safe refuge.

Pupping season is just now underway in South Puget Sound harbor seal rookeries. Soon lots of fat little “blubberballs” will be headed our way, following small bait fish, and needing to rest on very urban shores. It is always an exciting time of year for our volunteers, local residents and visitors who come as far away as Russia and France to enjoy a stroll along West Seattle’s shoreline.

Since spring of last year, we have distributed close to 7500 business card-sized “Share the Shore” brochures, containing information about seal behavior, species identification, the NW Stranding Network and protocol if you encounter a pup (or any marine mammal) on the beach. Norberg Press, a West Seattle printing firm, has generously donated another 10,000 brochures for our outreach this year. Many, many thanks to Rick of Norberg for this invaluable contribution! Please visit Norberg Press for your printing needs.

On a sadder note, we have had several pinniped deaths in the past week or so. A dead pup at Lincoln Park was transported to WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations Unit with a severe chest wound. The biologist believes the most likely cause was from a boat propeller. An adult harbor seal will be necropsied tomorrow morning and a sea lion was found dead on the Elliott Bay side of West Seattle. We will keep you updated on any necropsy findings of interest.