[Paddlewise] Seal Pup behavior

From: Anne Burton <aburton1_at_maine.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 08:19:24 -400
I saw the most wonderful thing yesterday -- a baby seal, playing (?) in 
the water, not 20 feet from where I was paddling.  He started vocalizing -- 
a pitiful baby noise, a little barky moan -- when he saw me and seemed 
to follow me for a little way; I did some fast paddling to get away, when I 
realized he was approaching me.  (Hope I did the right thing, assuming 
mom was out there fishing or something.)   

He was just unbearably cute, whitish-brownish shining fur, between 2 and 3
feet long.   I'm thinking he was born in the last week, if not the last 2
days.

Went around the other side of the island, and saw a mother seal nursing a
pup hauled out on the ledge!  I remember having read (in a MITA
publication no doubt) that kayakers alarm them more than motor boats (the
stealth aspect), so I started singing, which caused them to look, and slip
into the water.  The pup was the same size as the other one -- guess it's
the pup season!

What a thrill!  Does anyone know anything about seal pup behavior -- 
specifically the seeming to follow me? 




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Received on Mon May 15 2000 - 05:20:41 PDT

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