FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 2, 2007 Contact: Mary Jane Schramm,
National Marine Sanctuary Program David L. Hall, NOAA Public
Affairs Harbor Seal Pup Birthing Season Has Begun The first
harbor seal pup to be born in 2007 has made its debut on a Bay
Area beach, and more will soon be appearing on shorelines
throughout the area. The staff of the NOAA) Gulf of the
Farallones National Marine Sanctuary cautions beachgoers that it
is essential seal pups not be removed or disturbed, even if it
appears that they might be orphaned or abandoned. Every year,
healthy harbor seal pups are mistaken for orphans and are
needlessly separated from their mothers by well-meaning people —
sometimes permanently. Harbor seal mothers leave their pups
unattended on the beach while foraging at sea. After feeding,
they return to reclaim and nurse their pups, but the presence of
a human or dog near a seal pup may prevent a mother seal from
reuniting with her young one. The managers of Gulf of the
Farallones National Marine Sanctuary advis