Seal pups that populate WA beaches shouldn’t be touched
Feb 25, 2012, 12:28 PM | Updated: Feb 26, 2012, 4:20 pm
One of many seal pups spotted at Seattle's Lincoln Park in recent days. Photo by Robin Lindsey with Seal Sitters.
Seal pups are just about the cutest thing you’ll see on Washington state beaches, but did you know it’s against the law to touch them?
Robin Lindsey with Seal Sitters says seals spend about half their lives on shore and they should be left alone.
“Like any wild animal that are scared you’re either going to scare them in the water, which we don’t want you to do, or they can easily bite you,” Lindsey told 97.3 KIRO FM on Saturday.
One of the biggest threats to seal pups are off-leash dogs that aren’t familiar with sea mammals of any kind and have been known to injure and even kill seal pups.
Robin says if you see a seal basking on shore to keep your dog on a leash and call the NOAA and let them know.
For more information, call the Seal Sitters hotline at 206-905-SEAL.
