PORT ANGELES – Maybe it likes the fresh seafood or wants to watch the sand sculptors.
The second of two harbor seals spotted on the city’s shoreline near The Landing mall earlier this week apparently returned Wednesday morning after briefly disappearing, said Ed Bowlby, research coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The other seal was reported dead on Tuesday and was left on the beach for foraging animals.
Whether the harbor seal is a new visitor or Tuesday’s visitor returning, it came ashore Wednesday on Hollywood Beach, east of the location of the dead seal.
On Wednesday, the living seal was about 100 feet from the west end of Hollywood Beach, where sculptors are building sand creations for the Windermere North American Masters Invitational Sand Sculpture Competition.
The seal is within a triangular area of the beach, which is marked off with red tape.
The taped-off area is close to the sculptors’ work area.
A Clallam County Health Department flier has been posted to warn people of the disease hazard posed by the seal.
City spokeswoman Teresa Peirce said NOAA officials hope the seal will leave when the weekend crowds arrive.
The sand sculpture contest – which has a theme of “The Circus is Coming to Town” – is part of this weekend’s 41st annual Arts in Action Street Fair on and around Hollywood Beach and Port Angeles City Pier.
Carving will be done from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, with judging at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The public can watch from the sidewalk leading to the pier.
“We have alerted the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, because we might have to move it,” Bowlby said.
“Hopefully the mother will return for it.”
Pierce said Deputy Recreation Director Bill Sterling was told about the seal on Wednesday morning and contacted NOAA, which put up the tape and flier.
