Update: Citizens asked to be vigilant after young seal harassed

The young seal resting on the dock in January. (Photo by Bill Anderson)
The young seal resting on the dock in January. (Photo by Bill Anderson)

Many have been delighted by the appearance of a young seal that has taken to hauling out on the boat dock next to the Edmonds Fishing Pier since mid-December. But on Monday, a man was seen yelling at the seal, and he also threw rocks at it, said Susan Morrow, founder of the Edmonds Seal Sitters program.

“This is harmful and disruptive, and it is also against the law,” said Morrow, who notes that seals are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. “People who harass or interfere with marine mammals are subject to prosecution.”

Edmonds police will be investigating the incident, Morrow said.

“Seals need to come ashore daily to rest and regulate their body temperature, and this seal has found a spot where it feels secure,” she noted. “We can quietly watch the seal close up, but it is protected behind the marina fence and pier rail.”

According to Morrow, Edmonds Seal Sitters has been checking on this harbor seal regularly, but volunteers may not always be on site when the seal is resting on the boat dock. “If you see someone harassing this seal call 911,” Morrow said. “Edmonds police can best deal with someone behaving badly. Then call Edmonds Seal Sitters at 425-327-3336 for follow-up.”

  1. The protected marine area includes the beach at the dog park, and during the season those seals are harassed by the dogs. I am more concerned about that than people, but Edmonds turns a blind eye to that because the dogs playing on the beach is more important than the harassment dogs do when heron, seals, eagles are on that beach. And they are. I have personally seen it happen. My point is that a marine sanctuary when it is also a dog park is just hypocritical.

  2. I have seen people with mental health issues at the Edmonds beaches and marina. Most of the time these people, my son included, go about their business unnoticed. Perhaps the man yelling and throwing rocks at the seal was having a mental health related episode.

    I saw the seal at its usual spot Thursday afternoon (2/11), so the one incident did not scare it off.

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