NEW WEANER NINJA SPENDS DAY AT BOAT RAMP
After an extensive drought in responses to live harbor seal pups, Seal Sitters finally got the chance to provide some protection for seals seeking rest along Puget Sound shoreline - on what turned out to be a very wet day.

Early Saturday morning, SS volunteer John S was taking his daily walk along Harbor Avenue. As usual, he checked the locations that seal pups are known to come ashore. There were none at Don Armeni Boat Launch. He continued his walk, but within minutes received a call from a friend that a pup had just come ashore there.

John quickly returned to the ramp and kept people away until Co-Investigator Lynn arrived to put up barricades and string yellow tape. The day's First Responders Jay and Dori were notified and Scheduler Kelsey began making calls.


The new weaner, nicknamed Ninja, spent a long day snoozing on the ramp, guarded by a steady stream of Seal Sitters volunteers (photo above). Luckily, it was a dreary day and not much boating activity at the popular ramp. As is typical of weaners in late Fall, the seal was too thin. Finally, just as darkness began to fall and in the pouring rain, he returned to Elliott Bay - hopefully, to fatten up on squid and small fish. Thanks to everyone who kept Ninja safe!


HARLEQUIN BACK FOR SECOND DAY IN A ROW
Around 10am, SS Hotline Operator Larry received a call that a seal was on a small public access beach on Beach Drive (photo above). While First Responders Jay and Dori headed down from Don Armeni, off-duty Responder Dana offered to tape off the second seal since she lived just a few properties from the park.

Co-Investigator Robin confirmed that the thin weaner was indeed Harlequin, back for the second day in a row at the neighborhood beach.

Thanks to numerous Seal Sitters volunteers who worked in shifts, a very alert Harlequin was kept safe until dark, when he finally returned to the Sound. First Responders and Volunteers, drenched and cold, were thankful to escape the downpour and be able to go home and warm up.

Thanks to everyone who enabled Harlequin to get some much-needed rest onshore yesterday, after likely spending a stormy Friday night in the waters of Puget Sound.

Tags: Harlequin, Ninja