QUILCENE — Some people thought they were doing a good deed when they saw a harbor seal pup without its mother and removed it from a marina in Sequim Bay.
“That’s totally illegal,” said Sara Penhallegon, Center Valley Animal Rescue founder and director.
Marine mammals like harbor seals are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and disturbing, capturing, injuring or approaching them too closely could result in a heavy fine, depending on the seriousness of the offense.
Penhallegon was preparing for CVAR’s open house Saturday when she got a call that had her preparing take care of the seal pup instead.
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The pup was so young its umbilical cord was still attached. It was thin, dehydrated and had low blood sugar, but no visible sign of injury. Penhallegon wrapped it in a blanket, hooked it up to an IV and took its temperature with a rectal thermometer. It lay motionless with its eyes closed throughout.
“It should be thrashing around,” she said.
This was the second seal pup CVAR had taken in this year, stabilized and transported to SR³ SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research in Des Moines. The first had been born prematurely and was covered with dog bites; it’s now recovering nicely.
SR³ Executive Director Casey McLean said to always try to avoid marine mammals, whether they are on the beach or in the water. Mothers often leave their pups on the beach to feed but won’t return to them as long as people are hanging about.
“Stay 100 yards away, don’t throw things at it, don’t walk toward it, don’t take selfies with it,” McLean said.
The best thing to do if you find an animal you believe is sick or injured is to contact the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 866-767-6114 or CVAR, which is a member of the network, at 360-765-0598. Someone will assess the situation and condition of the animal.
The seal pup died from what McLean said looked like significant birth trauma, but SR³ would not know for certain until results of the necropsy were available, he said.