Over the past week, Uno has been true to form, arriving virtually daily at Cove 3 by the Water Taxi landing near high tide and returning to Elliott Bay late afternoon or early evening, close to the subsequent flood tide. Today, however, she decided to mix things up.

First Responder Robin wasn't expecting to see Uno until at least noon today, closer to high tide, so was surprised when her phone rang at 8:30 am. Hotline Operator Julia had received a call about a seal scared into the water at Cove 2, the popular dive cove on the opposite side of the Water Taxi and fishing pier. When Robin arrived minutes later, diving instructor (and Seal Sitters volunteer) Richard said his scuba class had accidentally spooked an unseen seal who was resting on the rocks. As we chatted, we watched a curious little seal trail within feet of divers’ bubbles in the cove.

When the seal disappeared from view, Robin checked Cove 3, but that beach was empty. After hanging around for some time, she checked the nearby shoreline, but no seals. Just as she was heading home about 9:30, she decided to check Cove 3 one last time. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a little white flash in the water, just a few feet out in the Bay. Uno, determined to get an early rest, crawled onto the pebbled beach.

Sending out a quick text letting other First Responders know Uno was back, Robin started stretching tape and gave Scheduler Karen a heads up to line up the troops. After making a barrage of calls and doing an awesome job lining up a string of volunteers, Karen (right) came down to do some beach time as well.



First Responders Dana and Lynn (left) came down with extra materials. It was another very long day with a steady stream of people who were captivated by the fuzzy white weaner. There were plenty of volunteers on the calendar today.

Volunteers Jay and Dori (photo below), John, Helen, Libby, Kristen, and Cathy all did a fantastic job answering the many questions and keeping the bustling area relatively quiet. First Responders David and Eilene and Seal Sitters’ valuable educator Buzz Shaw, engaged the public with detailed info on harbor seal behavior. The most common question was “Where’s Mom?” The answer was that Uno is anywhere from 5-7 months old and her mom has long been out of the picture, since harbor seal pups are weaned and entirely on their own at 4-6 weeks old.


Late in the afternoon, Uno started to make the slo-mo, over 2 hour trek back toward the receding water. She’d crawl a couple of feet closer to the tideline and then settle in for a wee snooze. Then, Uno would wake up and crawl a couple more feet and take another little snooze.

Finally, at precisely 5pm, with cold volunteers silently cheering her on, Uno scooted the last few feet and disappeared into the gray waters to forage, just as darkness began to fall. Happy volunteers gathered up materials and disappeared, too, off to do some evening foraging of their own.

Beautiful Uno is a tremendous ambassador for harbor seals, the most commonly seen marine mammals in Puget Sound, and Seal Sitters volunteers (including Libby, Buzz and Helen shown above) were outstanding ambassadors today for NOAA’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

Tags: Uno

Near Marination Restaurant before 10 this morning, early walkers along Elliott Bay were delighted to see a seal lounging on a log, floating in the water just offshore at Cove 3. Minutes later, the little weaner Uno slid into the water and caterpillar-crawled onto a small bit of favored beach, now exposed by the receding high tide. It didn't take long for someone to figure out to call Seal Sitters' hotline which was answered by Operator Dave. He promptly let First Responder Robin know we had a flippered friend in need.

Zipping down the Ferry Avenue hill, Robin was there in no time. Grabbing materials from her car, she could see a woman and small child standing guard on the sidewalk. Uno was alert, close up and in full view. Robin rushed to get a quick perimeter established in a steady, cold rain; thankfully, there was no one else around except Russian-born Elena and excited 2-year old Nila.

Volunteer Scheduler Lori was on-call today and began lining up vols. If Uno was true to form, he would stay put til mid-afternoon or later. Volunteer Helen arrived in her Kodak-yellow rain jacket and set up her scope, far enough away from the seal that if people gathered to take a peek and chat, it would not be disruptive. Shortly afterwards, Victoria strolled up in her Bogs boots, decked out in full rain gear. Our volunteers were well-prepared for another nasty weather day!

As the day wore on, Buzz, Eve, and First Responder David all came down to lend a hand, talk to passersby and keep Uno safe as he stretched and yawned and snoozed.

Marination's manager took pity on our die-hard volunteers, standing out in the downpour for hours, and brought out some tasty tacos. The Marination staff has always been incredibly supportive of Seal Sitters' work when we are on seal duty at the coves.

Uno was alert to activity around him in between naps today - always a good sign. It's amazing to us that he can sleep at all with lumbering garbage trucks, construction noise, general traffic and the chatter of people in such an urban location.

Finally, around 2pm, Uno decided he, too, had enough of the heavy rain, scooted across the slick pebbles and swam off into Elliott Bay. We could see her little head far offshore, so we removed all materials and left for home to warm up and dry out....in time for a potential next round tomorrow.

After looking after so many thin and struggling weaner over the years, it is really wonderful to have a seemingly healthy weaner for a change!

Tags: Uno

VOLUNTEERS BRAVE CRAZY WEATHER DAY TO PROTECT UNO
Winter seal flurries continue along the shoreline of West Seattle! Hotline Kristen got a not-so-surprising call around 10 am regarding a seal on the beach - this time, snuggled at Cove 3, the preferred kayakers cove near the Water Taxi.

First Responder Dana was relieved upon arrival that Uno had decided to haul out at this cove yesterday instead of Cove 2, packed with divers. Thankfully, due to inclement weather, there were no kayakers trying to launch today. Uno was resting comfortably in a steady rain, nestled among the logs on the pebbled beach.

Dana immediately started stringing yellow tape as First Responder Robin arrived to help. Wind gusts blew down the informational sandwich boards and cones, so they were finally just left flat with tape stretched between them. Scheduler Jonel began the task of checking Seal Sitters’ online calendar and lining up shifts of volunteers.

We have weaners coming out our ears these days! Volunteers Buzz, Sawyer and Lisa, Victoria, Sally, Kelsey, and Cathy (with onlooker, photo above) braved the wind and rain to talk to passersby. First Responder David also came by to check on Uno. We were treated to a short-lived weather break midday with a gorgeous, fat rainbow that stretched over Elliott Bay.

Speaking of gorgeous, Uno looked pretty fabulous yesterday. A bit of a tubby belly and wide, wet eye rings (photo above) that mean Uno has been foraging successfully. There were a couple of minor coughing spells.

Around 2ish, Uno started moving closer to the water as it receded. The weaner rested there about an hour and then flopped the final few feet as the rain intensified, disappearing into the waves. As volunteers scanned the water to see if he might return, it became a drenching downpour and high winds whipped up from the south. Volunteers removed the perimeter, grabbed materials and dashed for our respective cars to head home.

Tags: Uno

Uno continues to keep Seal Sitters busy. Around 8:30 am Friday morning, Hotline Operator Cheri received a report of a seal at Cove 2 near the Water Taxi. First Responders Eilene and David arrived within minutes and located Uno at her favorite new haul out spot.

While setting up a perimeter, Scheduler Molly was contacted, who proceeded to line up volunteers for the day.

Uno appears to be doing well. A number of volunteers noticed three small bloody spots on the upper right chest, but they seem to be nothing serious. Little or no coughing was observed - a good sign since almost all weaners are battling respiratory issues during these cold and wet winter months.

In the photo at right, you can see wet rings around Uno's eyes. This is a great sign that she has been foraging and is well-hydrated.

Uno tried with somewhat difficulty to relax and sleep in the busy and noisy urban setting. Finally, the arriving Water Taxi (the first run of the afternoon) and accompanying waves proved to be too much disturbance, and the weaner swam off into Elliott Bay at 3:34 pm.

Tags: Uno

UNO ENJOYS TWO DAYS OF SUNSHINE
For the past two days, weaner Uno has been spending long hours resting on the pebbled beach near Lincoln Park's Colman Pool. First Responders David and Lynn have also spent long days there, with the help of numerous Seal Sitters volunteers, ensuring his/her safety at the popular park where illegally off-leash dogs, a danger to resting seals, are all too common.

Both days, Uno has stayed from morning until dark, requiring many volunteer hours. Thanks to all of the Seal Sitters volunteers who pitched in to help. It truly "takes a village" to keep seals safe on busy urban beaches.

DEAD WEANER RECOVERED FROM OFFSHORE RAFT, TAKEN FOR NECROPSY
It was a busy day yesterday on another note as Seal Sitters took on the task of recovering the body of a weaner who died on the raft just offshore at the north end of Lincoln Park.

The raft has been heavily used by numerous seals over the past weeks (as many as 7 at a time). Over the past few days, neighbors noticed and reported what appeared to be a lifeless small seal. Timing of the recovery was critical, so as not to deter the many seals from continuing to use this safe refuge just off a highly trafficked beach. Only members of NOAA’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network have the designated authority to disturb marine mammals with discretion in case of recovery of a body for necropsy or rescue of an injured animal. In this situation, the animal was deteriorating in view of the public, causing distress and repeated reports, and a decaying body might potentially deter other animals from using the safety of the raft to rest.

First Responder Lynn's husband, Don Brubeck, offered to perform the tricky task of maneuvering the body off the raft and back to shore. We chose a time when there were only two weaners on the raft with the body. Weaner One left the minute Don put the kayak in the water and Weaner Two was reluctant to leave the raft even as the kayak was just feet away, but finally slipped off into the water.

Windy weather did not help Don out, as both the raft and kayak were pitching in the waves. First Responders talked to passersby to let them know what was going on. Don was finally able to get the body into the net and paddle back to shore. The seal was delivered to WDFW's Lakewood office for necropsy.

Within 15-20 minutes after Don's departure, one of the weaners was already back on the raft, sleeping soundly in the sun.

Many thanks to Don for taking on the very physical task of recovering the dead seal. Special thanks to SS volunteer Theresa Hall, who donated the kayak for just these purposes.

Tags: Uno

UNO MOVES TO ELLIOTT BAY
Just before 10 am yesterday, Seal Sitters Hotline Operator Gretchen called First Responder David to let him know there was a seal onshore at the north entrance to Lincoln Park. David was just walking into the heavily used park, looking for the animal when his cell phone rang - it was Gretchen again! She had received a new report of another seal, this one resting near the Water Taxi landing on Harbor Avenue.

David sent out an urgent text that we had a second seal near Marination restaurant, pleading for some response help. SS volunteer Buzz rushed to the Elliott Bay cove, followed by First Responder Lynn. They established a tape perimeter to close off access to the seal that was identified as Uno (photo above). Uno decided to exchange a view of Puget Sound and the Olympics from Lincoln Park for that of the Seattle skyline, on the opposite side of West Seattle, in Elliott Bay.

Scheduler Abigail scrambled to try to find enough volunteers to cover two locations for the day. Thanks to volunteers Jay, Lori, Jonel and Dana who answered the plea and helped out at Cove 2. Uno rested until around 2pm, when the skies opened up with a torrential rain. Soaked volunteers left the area once they were convinced this fuzzy little sightseer wouldn't return.

SICK WEANER RESCUED FROM LINCOLN PARK
It was obvious to David that the seal yesterday morning at the north end of Lincoln Park was in trouble. After taping off an area to keep the seal safe, he noticed the seal was very lethargic and weak. There was labored breathing through the mouth. Additionally, there was no visible reaction to a dog, barking just above on the path - activity that would have spooked a healthy seal.

A decision was made to contact one of the NOAA-trained consulting vets for a beach health assessment (required by NOAA’s regional office before any transport to rehab facility for treatment). Dr. Elizabeth Mansi agreed to examine the pup on site.

Scheduler Abigail was asked to redirect the volunteers that were coming to Lincoln Park to Cove 2 instead. After a brief exam, the veterinarian, along with First Responders Lynn and Robin, confirmed that the largely unresponsive weaner was indeed in “respiratory distress” with low heart rate and "terrible" lungs. Robin transported the seal to PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood for stabilization and treatment.

Sadly, the seal died overnight. Robin picked up the body from PAWS today for transfer to WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations Unit in Lakewood for necropsy, in hopes to determine cause of death. Huge thanks to Dr. Liz for her assistance yesterday.

Tags: Uno

Early this very chilly January morning, First Responder David got a call from the Hotline Operator Gretchen, reporting a seal on the beach at Lincoln Park. David was able to locate the seal, nestled close to the walkway at Colman Pool.

Quickly setting a tape perimeter in place, he contacted Scheduler Melinda who began calling volunteers for the day. Thanks to Seal Sitters Margy, Jay, Carol and Richard for standing guard while the seal was onshore. A number of porpoises and California sea lions were observed swimming in the Sound.

The beautifully spotted seal returned to the water around 1 pm, just as orcas were reported off Bainbridge and Blake Island. Transient orcas are a major predator of harbor seals and have been sighted regularly in Puget Sound over the past year. Seal Sitters volunteers stuck around for a while, just to be sure the seal did return to shore.

The young seal hauled out a couple of times on the large cement footings that are revealed offshore when the tide recedes. All volunteers left the Park shortly afterwards since he was resting safely away from people and dogs.

Since this is our first seal of 2018, the name Uno was suggested - Spanish for the number one.

Tags: Uno