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Harbor seal pups are frequently found alone on the beach. They are usually
not stranded, but simply resting (as all baby mammals must do) and waiting for
their mothers to come back ashore to nurse them. Adult female seals are shy and
unlikely to rejoin a pup if there is activity nearby. They may only return to
suckle their pup at night when people are not around. It is very important not
to interfere with this process, and especially not to move a pup from where it
is receiving care from its mother.

Within three or four weeks of birth, harbor seal pups are weaned from
maternal care and are left to fend for themselves. While learning to find and
catch its own food, a young seal may come ashore frequently to rest. This is
often a very challenging stage of life, and. not all pups survive. But while it
may be tempting to "take them in," their best chance for survival is to be left
alone on the beach.

• Harbor seals nurse for just 3-4 weeks
• Harbor seal mothers routinely leave pups ashore
  unattended while they forage at sea
• If a seal pup is removed from where it receives
  care, IT WILL DIE

Please Do Not Touch seal pups!