Seal pupping season along Puget Sound starts in June and runs through August, September, or in some parts of the region, October. But that doesn’t mean that you can see a seal pup up close.
If you see one on the shore, experts say you should stay far away, or risk causing the mother to abandon her pup. Harassing a pup is a federal crime, and is punishable by over $30,000 in fines.
Why is it so important that you don’t approach them and what do experts say you should do instead? Here’s what you should know.
Why you shouldn’t approach a seal pup
According to Alex Holmes, a guide at Metro Parks Tacoma, it’s common to see a seal pup alone on the shore because they haven’t developed the skills they need to spend most of their time in the water.
“Seal pups spend more time on shore, just because they’re not able to thermo-regulate quite as well as the adults and they’re not good enough swimmers. So they spend time on shore… while the mother will go forage for fish,” Holmes said.
Because of that, people often think a pup has been abandoned when it’s just waiting for it’s mother to bring back food. But if someone approaches the pup looking to help, it can have severe consequences for the seal.
“It’s totally normal behavior, it’s totally safe, it’s just that it looks like it’s been abandoned,” Holmes said. “But if people get too close, the mother will feel threatened, and she won’t be willing to come back onto shore. She might completely write off the pup as a loss and she’ll just leave it to be.”
How far away should you stay?
Disturbing a seal pup, or an adult seal for that matter, is illegal under federal law . According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , which is responsible for enforcing the protections, there are two different types of harassment that are considered illegal.
“Level A” harassment consists of “any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance that has the potential to injure” a marine mammal.
“So that would be if you’re actually harassing it, like throwing stuff at it,” Holmes said.
“Level B” harassment has a much broader scope. It includes anything that has “the potential to disturb” marine mammals or their normal behavioral patterns.
“So that would be like getting too close,” Holmes said.
You aren’t supposed to get within 50 yards of adult seals , or 100 yards of pups , according to NOAA.
How much is the fine for harassing seals?
Violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the federal law that protects seals, is punishable by a civil fine of up to $34,457 in severe cases. If criminal charges are brought, it can carry an even steeper fine. According to Holmes, in the most extreme cases, fines can reach six figures.
“So both [Level A and Level B violations] can result in a civil penalty of $34,000,” Holmes said. “But then for criminal penalties, which are more extreme cases, they can be up to about $100,000.”
What should you do if you see a seal?
If you see a seal pup, the most important thing to do is stay away, according to Holmes, who also recommends keeping all dogs on a leash in areas where you might run into a seal pup.
“First, keep your distance from them,” Holmes said. “I think it’s always a good idea to contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife just to make sure that it’s safe and so they know that it’s there.”
The people who cause the most trouble for seal pups are usually just trying to help, Holmes said, so educating the public on the issue will go a long way towards solving it.
“I think people really want to help,” Holmes said. “They see this pup that seems to be abandoned or alone and their inclination is to help it. But really the only thing you can do is just leave it be and just let nature take its course.”
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