Reminder: Leave Harbor Seal Pups Alone on Oregon Beaches

Seals are federally protected from harassment and capture by the public.

Oregon police and marine officials are reminding Oregon beachgoers to keep themselves and their pets away from Harbor Seal pups. Photo courtesy: Oregon State University

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore. ) - Oregon police and marine officials are reminding Oregon beachgoers to keep themselves and their pets away from Harbor Seal pups.

Harbor Seal pups are born between mid-April and June. The pups stay with their mothers for about 4-6 weeks and join the adult seals during their haul-outs (daily resting and warming periods that last several hours). Seals are less mobile and therefore more vulnerable while they are out of the water. Adults will flee to the water if they are disturbed or approached and may leave their pups behind. If the disturbance near the pup goes away, the female is likely to return to the shore and reclaim her pup, but if activity continues near the pup, she may eventually give up trying to return. The pups and mothers have successfully reunited up to 48 hours after separation.

If you see a seal on the beach, give it room, at least 100 yards. Observe from a distance using binoculars if you really want to see the animals close up. By all means, keep pets away. Baby seals can easily fall prey to dogs and older seals may bite in self defense. Some diseases are infectious to both dogs and seals, and people can also be at risk if they come into direct contact with an infected animal. The pup may have been left on shore to warm up (do NOT pour water on it) or to rest (do not handle, cover, or attempt to feed it). The kindest thing you can do for the seal pup is to back away and watch from a distance. If the pup has been unattended for 48 hours, or is clearly injured, contact the marine mammal stranding network at (800) 452- 7888.

According to Bruce Mate, Oregon State University Extension marine mammal specialist at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center, every year people pick up pups and take them to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, the Marine Mammal Stranding Network at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, or the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is against the policy of all of these facilities to take in these animals. Picking the animals up drastically increases the chance that the animal will not survive Mate said.

Seals are federally protected from harassment and capture by the public. If you observe incidents of people or pets tormenting, disturbing or attempting to remove a seal from the beach, contact the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964.