Summer holidays are a particularly challenging time for newborn harbor seal pups and their moms. Picnickers, hikers and boaters often cause a nursing female to flee in fright. This separation from the pup, who cannot survive without her, can potentially cause abandonment if the mom feels it is unsafe to return.

On the outer coast of Washington, harbor seal pupping season is well underway, with reports of at least 7 full-term pups trying to rest on various beaches. In Puget Sound, we usually start seeing full-term pups in late June. Pups can be born in South and Central Puget Sound from June thru the first week of September and are weaned after 4-6 weeks. However, premature pups (lanugos) have already been born in our area, including one born dead in West Seattle.

DISTURBANCE IS DEADLY
Always stay far away from moms and pups. If you see a pup alone on the beach or raft or dock, mom is likely nearby. Do not interfere. Boaters, stay back from harbor seal haulouts as they will be full of pregnant females and moms with newborns for the next 6 months. Disturbance can cause abandonment and pup deaths.

If you come across a seal pup and have concerns, stay back, keep people and dogs away and call your local stranding network with details of circumstances and location. In West Seattle, call Seal Sitters hotline at 206-905-SEAL (7325).

To learn more about seal pups, visit our website HERE. Photo above is of a just-born pup near a public boat launch, still partially in the birth sac with placenta.

Tags: Pupping season

Seal Sitters in West Seattle has had an early and sad start to seal pupping season this year.

Our dedicated hotline (206-905-SEAL) received a report from a beach resident early Saturday morning reporting 3 harbor seals on the raft offshore Emma Schmitz Overlook along Beach Drive. The caller described a larger adult, a medium sized seal and a tiny pup. When Seal Sitters First Responder David arrived at Emma Schmitz, only the pup was still on the raft.

Based on observations through a spotting scope, David determined the pup (shown above) was deceased. He called the reporting party back for more information and was told that on Friday night the raft was empty. When they got up around 6:30 am the next morning, the 3 seals were on the raft and they thought they saw the larger seal licking the pup. The larger seals left later in the morning.

There was blood on the raft indicating a birth site and the dead pup was covered in long, wavy white fur (lanugo), indicating that it was a full month premature.

Dyanna Lambourn at WDFW Marine Mammals investigations was informed that we had a newborn pup for necropsy. Since retrieval by kayak was not the easiest endeavor, David and Co-Investigator Lynn waited and waded out at lower tide, when the raft was accessible in about a foot of water, to retrieve the pup.

The pup was delivered to WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations office in Lakewood on Sunday morning.

This is one of the earliest (if not the earliest) response by Seal Sitters to a premature pup in West Seattle. Premature pups face tremendous obstacles for survival. At a month premature, a pup's organs and muscles have not fully developed. We do not know if the pup was born alive, dying shortly afterwards, or was stillborn.

Central and South Puget Sound has hundreds of pregnant harbor seals at this time. Full-term pups can be born in our area anytime from late June - September. To view a seal pupping timeframe map for Washington, click here.

If you see a small pup onshore - or on a dock or raft - over the next several months or more it is likely newborn or recently weaned. It is imperative that people stay far back to ensure that mom will not be scared away - but, if she is, she will more likely return to care for her pup if the area is clear and quiet. It is truly a matter of life and death, so please do not interfere. If the animal is being harassed by people or dogs, please contact the stranding network for your area (map here).

Read more in-depth about harbor seal pups on Seal Sitters’ website.

Tags: Pupping season

Help keep marine life safe! On Saturday, June 29, from 9:30am - noon, come on down to Alki Beach and do your part to keep the sea free of dangerous debris. We will meet at the Statue of Liberty Plaza (Alki Ave SW and 61st Ave SW) in West Seattle. RSVP is requested.

“Sentinels of the Sound” Beach Cleanup is co-sponsored by Seal Sitters MMSN, Sno-King Marine Mammal Response and SR3. Special thanks to Puget Soundkeeper Alliance.

Before volunteers disperse to clean up the beach, there will be a brief talk on the devastating impact of trash and debris on marine life.

Did you know that an estimated 80% of marine debris originates from land? Or that 360 billion cigarette butts are discarded in the U.S. alone each year - all of them leaching toxic chemicals into the soil and waterways? At last year’s beach cleanup, volunteers picked up an estimated 9,000 butts from Alki Beach (and adjoining sidewalks and street) in just a few hours.

Did you know that derelict fishing gear and plastics injure and kill many thousands of marine mammals and seabirds annually? All of which can be prevented by careful - and proper - disposal.

For Seal Sitters, derelict fishing gear is a very up close and personal issue. Please visit our website to learn about seal pup Sandy and the Arroyos gray whale, both harmed by marine debris - and for more details about the cleanup.



Cleanup materials will be on hand, but if you have gloves and pickup sticks, please bring them. RSVP is requested.

Learn more about our dangerous waters on Seal Sitters’ website.

Make a difference for wildlife and join Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network (SSMMSN). Volunteers are vital for the protection of seal pups and other marine mammals. For over a decade, Seal Sitters has not only kept marine mammals safe, we have also provided valuable education about marine life and our fragile marine ecosystem to local residents and visitors from around the world.


NEW VOLUNTEER TRAINING SPRING SESSION: SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2019 (rsvp required - see below)
Seal Sitters MMSN holds several special trainings a year for those wanting to protect marine mammals along the shoreline of West Seattle and the Duwamish River.

The height of harbor seal pupping season in Central and South Puget Sound is September and October. Due to time constraints on volunteers, there will likely only be 2 training sessions in 2019, prior to the start of seal pupping season.

IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE - Every marine mammal stranding network requires their own unique training. Attending a Seal Sitters MMSN training does not qualify you to volunteer for networks in a differing location. We are a very active network and have volunteers who travel from around the area to participate. However, if you live out of the West Seattle area and would like to find a stranding network closer to where you live, click here.

Unlike most marine mammal stranding networks with geographical challenges, we encourage children to participate in Seal Sitters - supervised at all times, of course, by a parent or guardian. We are so proud of our amazing and dedicated volunteers who are on duty rain or shine - we hope you will join us!

A multi-media presentation will illustrate our educational work in the community and the unique challenges of protecting seals and other marine mammals in an urban environment. Included in the training is an overview of NOAA's West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network and protocol. While SSMMSN responds to reports of ALL marine mammals (such as the stranding of a juvenile humpback whale) this training centers on the biology and behavior of local pinnipeds which comprise the majority of our responses.

WHEN:
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2019
TIME:
10am-12:00 pm (there will be a short break and followup Q&A period)
Doors open at 9:30am, training starts promptly at 10.
*please arrive early to receive paperwork

WHERE:
ALKI UCC (*there is no church affiliation with Seal Sitters MMSN)
front meeting room
6115 SW Hinds St
West Seattle (map it here)

RSVP required to attend.
If you plan on attending, an RSVP is required. Please include in your email the full names of everyone who will be coming. If any of these are minors, include their ages. Seating is limited, so be sure to register early to reserve your place.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP

*PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: all children in attendance must be able to sit quietly through an approximate 2 hour training session with a short break.

For additional questions and info or to be placed on a contact list for future training opportunities, please email us.

Tags: training