While much of Seattle was either in church marking Easter Sunday or at home preparing for feasts with family and friends, Seal Sitters volunteers were looking after a bonafide “Easter seal” at Lincoln Park. At 11:18 am, Hotline Operator Kristen received a report that a seal had just crawled ashore near Colman Pool. As First Responder Robin dragged a cart with stranding materials down the long path from the north end, her heart sank upon seeing a woman and leashed dog on the beach, very close to the young sleeping seal. Thankfully, they turned back and the seal remained onshore, with a wide expanse of beach at almost low tide. Volunteer Scheduler Kelsey was given a headsup to start calling volunteers.

Fighting extremely blustery conditions, Robin struggled to get a perimeter up, as the wind stretched and snapped the yellow flagging tape. She gave up on posting signs when the very first "Do Not Enter - Resting Harbor Seal” sign blew off, tumbling end on end along the beach toward the seal before sailing into Puget Sound. The weaner snoozed soundly thru it all.

A string of Seal Sitters (Sally, Kristen, Jimi, Cathy, Melinda, Kate and son Garrett, Suzanne, Jay and Dori), along with First Responders David and Lynn, educated the public throughout the afternoon. The weather improved a bit and some sun peeked thru the dark skies. More and more people ventured out and stopped to ask questions: the most common one, of course, "Where's mom?" Volunteers explained that mom was long gone, after nursing her pup only about 4 weeks, and that this weaner had been on his or her own for probably 7 months or more.

As the tide eventually turned, the sweet seal nicknamed Cadbury in honor of the holiday, was in no mood to return to the wind-whipped waves. Instead, the seal moved higher on the beach as the water’s edge slowly crept in. The wind was a challenge all day and made for some pretty cold conditions, but was still preferable over the frigid water for a thin seal without a heck of alot of blubber to keep warm.

Late in the afternoon, a large and boisterous group gathered at the tape. By this time, Cadbury was terribly close to the walkway, though somewhat buffered by some large logs at the edge of the path, and was increasingly alert and skittish to the nearby noise. Finally, the crowd thinned out to a more manageable size and the seal was able to get some quieter rest. Volunteers were constantly moving the cones at the water’s edge as the tide relentlessly consumed the pebbled beach. The skies darkened and wind gusts increased again.

Around 5:20pm, Cadbury somewhat reluctantly returned to the dark gray Sound to forage and could be seen swimming far offshore. Volunteers gathered together the stranding materials and hiked back out of the park, shortly before it began to hail about 6:30.

Thanks to everyone who ensured Cadbury’s safety yesterday - and thanks to our supporters who phone Seal Sitters’ hotline (206-905-7325) with timely reports, so we can get out to protect seals from harassment and harm. Young seals desperately need undisrupted rest, which is crucial to survival. The weaner did have occasional coughing spells and has some additional evidence of respiratory issues. We hope the thin weaner was out packing on some pounds last night.

Tags: Cadbury