WESTPORT, WASHINGTON — A seal pup had the poor fortune of being spotted by someone who had good intentions.
On the shore of Westport beach in Washington, a woman spotted the seal pup, beached. Thinking it was dying, she ran over to the pup to try to help. Sliding it into a shopping bag, she brought the seal back home and called for help. Unfortunately, the pup had to be put down, as state wildlife officials determined it was unresponsive and lethargic.
Seal pups often rest on the beach to regulate their body temperatures, or wait while their mother is out hunting. Humans standing around or interfering with the pups can lead the mother to abandon the infant.
Distressing, feeding, and moving the seals is illegal, as it disrupts their ability to survive in the wild. People are encouraged to observe their behavior and take photographs from at least 100 yards away.
Unfortunately, many tourists don’t seem to get the memo.
