25/08/2026
Sadly, at one haul-out site where heavily pregnant females have started to gather in readiness to give birth, we have already witnessed one dead and two stillborn pups.
As the pupping season gets underway, it is important to remember that disturbance can affect an expectant mother's ability to rest and regulate hormones. Whilst she remains alert to potential danger, she cannot rest and stress hormones will flood her body in readiness for flight. When pregnant seals are startled or scared into the sea before they are ready they use up valuable energy reserves that they have built up in readiness for birth. An alarmed stampede across rocky ground may harm the unborn pup.
Once she has given birth, the tiny vulnerable pup will rely on her fat-rich milk for up to three weeks. During this important part of their life-cycle they are vulnerable to any type of disturbance that may prevent the mother from coming ashore to feed her precious offspring. Eventually, this may lead to abandonment and starvation for the pup.
IMPORTANT POINTS:
- Pups rely on their mother's fat rich milk for the first few weeks of their lives and are maternally dependent until they are weaned after about 3 weeks.
- They feed every 4 to 6 hours. The absence of mum doesn't always mean that the pup has been abandoned, and we may need to keep a watching brief to make sure she isn't waiting to come ashore.
- A pup can lose up to 0.5kg a day without feeding (more if active).
In the absence of its mother's milk, it doesn't take long for a pup to lose weight and start weakening. Eventually the pup will perish unless the mother returns or a rescue organisation intervenes. To avoid this scenario, we need to take care around seals.
WHAT WE CAN DO:
* Stay away from pupping sites or watch responsibly (remain at least 100m away so you can't be seen, heard or smelled). Try not to talk too loudly or make sudden movements that may attract a seal's attention, such as pointing or gesticulating. If you make eye contact, you are too close!
* Use binoculars or a long lens camera so you don't get too close.
* Keep dogs on a lead (and well away from pupping sites)
* Take care not to block access to or from the sea (a boat positioned between a lactating mother and the shore may prevent her from returning to feed her pup).
It's a real joy to see white coated seal pups developing into independent well-fed healthy seals.
It's a sobering thought that, although seals may live for 30-40 years, the mortality rate for pups is very high with many not reaching their first birthday. We can help pups reach this milestone by ensuring that we don't add to disturbance at pupping sites, either on land or on the sea and to also share this message with others.
Please help us to share the message to let seals rest 🦭
