COMPLICATED SCENARIO FOR REMOVING DEAD SEA LION
On Sunday Seal Sitters responded to a report of a dead carcass floating in Cove 2, near the Water Taxi landing. It was a very sad looking, decomposed adult California sea lion.

The animal has rope looped around the rear end and the chest. There is no apparent sign of foul play. It appears that the sea lion died elsewhere and someone towed or unsuccessfully attempted to sink the large body.

Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) imposed new regulations regarding the towing/sinking of marine mammals. The Marine Mammal Stranding Network is required to get a special permit to sink a dead marine mammal within 3 miles of land. Burial in the small cove is not an option for a number of reasons.

Seal Sitters completed the application for the emergency permit this afternoon. That permit usually takes 2-4 weeks to be granted.

In the interim, NOAA's general hotline as well as Seal Sitters' is receiving lots of inquiries about the animal. There were erroneous reports that it was a dead orca calf, which sparked widespread concerns. Another person thought it was a Halloween prank.

In hopes that we can answer people's questions and alleviate fears, we posted an informational sign at the cove, identifying the species and explaining the requirements that delay in removal. This way, the public has the necessary information and realize that the Stranding Network is making every effort to resolve the situation.

UPDATE
A current has gripped the pungent sea lion carcass, which had been trapped close to the water taxi pier for the past two days, and it is slowly drifting out into Elliott Bay. Hopefully, it will sink to the floor of Elliott Bay and feed the ecosystem.

For the past few days, a harbor seal pup nicknamed Domino (and relatively fat), has been hauling out at high tide onto the rock jetty between Cormorant Cove and Constellation Beach. Domino is shown in the photo above just around noon today, shortly after First Responder Lynn checked the area and saw the pup sleeping on the very tip of a submerged rock.

The newly-weaned pup enjoyed a long snooze as the tide receded (photo below late afternoon). Surrounded by water, Domino was able to rest safely away from activity on the beach. Few people even realized a seal pup was present until David set up a scope and talked with passersby.

Because he is safe, there was really no need for volunteers to stand watch, but it's always great to observe a pup in a low-stress environment.

Domino was still sound asleep, looking fuzzy and warm in the waning sun, as David, Dana and Robin left around 5pm.

Our very strange seal pupping season continues, but at least we've had a couple of live pups lately. Maybe we'll have a busier winter if weaners choose to forage and rest around West Seattle as they have in years past.

Tags: Domino

This year’s seal pup season has been by far the strangest in Seal Sitters’ 11 year history. Usually in September and October, first responders and hotline operators are swamped with calls about seal pups who are trying to find a quiet spot to rest on West Seattle’s busy beaches. Not so this year. Without a single call about a live pup in over 5 weeks, responders were wondering what the heck was going on.

That dry spell finally ended this morning when SSMMSN Hotline Operator Cheri fielded a report of a seal pup on Alki Beach. When First Responder Robin arrived about 10 minutes later, she was delighted to see two SW Precinct Police officers standing next to barricades they had placed at a respectable distance on either side of a tiny seal pup. Thanking the officers, they replied that it was the best duty they could ask for - protecting a sweet little seal on a sunny day at the beach. The officers had been nearby and were alerted by a resident.

As Robin stretched tape and pounded in stakes, First Responders Lynn and Dana came down to lend a hand on this very windy morning. Volunteer Scheduler Molly checked the online calendar and began making calls to those who had entered time for the day. A young boy, enjoying Alki with his family, was fascinated by the furry little critter and named the seal Frankie.

SS volunteer Helen showed up with her large scope and tripod strapped on her back. She set it up at the east end of the perimeter so people could get a closeup look. Brand new Seal Sitter Margy, positioned at the far opposite end of the wide buffer zone, talked to a steady stream of rapt people, all wondering what the fuss and tape was about. Lots of stickers were given out to appreciative children. Volunteer Jimi was on standby for her afternoon shift.

Frankie was alert to activity (a good sign), but had some coughing bouts and most certainly has some respiratory issues. Because they are almost always on the thin side with a compromised immune system, most weaned seal pups in the late fall and winter are coping with some kind of viral problem caused by lungworms.

It’s all too often a struggle for seal pups to survive stacked odds - a 50% mortality rate the first year. That’s why it is so important that we allow them the space to come ashore, warm up out of the cold water and re-charge, so they have the strength to battle through these challenges.

About 2 1/2 hours after the first report, Frankie decided he’d had enough of a group of pesky seagulls who were disturbing his nap time. He moved easily to the water’s edge and disappeared into the choppy waves of Puget Sound. We’ll be on the lookout for Frankie, should the pup return for more rest tomorrow.

Tags: Frankie