New child seal pup noticed swimming with mom at Shilshole Marina

A newly born harbor seal pup was noticed swimming alongside its mom at Shilshole Bay Marina on Thursday, drawing a small crowd of onlookers.

Ballard resident Carsin Grace instructed My Ballard she got here throughout the scene whereas taking a day stroll from the marina towards Golden Gardens Park.

“I was on a typical afternoon walk through the Shilshole Bay Marina to Golden Gardens, when I saw a small crowd of people looking over the dock rails,” Grace stated. “Out of curiosity, I stopped to look assuming it would be a seal per usual.”

According to Grace, one other spectator stated the harbor seal had been seen pregnant on Wednesday, July 8, and believed the pup had been born throughout the earlier 24 hours.

Grace stated the mom and pup had been slowly swimming across the marina collectively. The mom nonetheless had her placenta connected, whereas the pup’s umbilical twine was additionally nonetheless connected.

“Momma seemed to be resting, swimming down and laying on the floor for a couple minutes at a time,” Grace stated. “Baby was very curious, swimming around the boats and learning how to swim in circles.”

Grace watched the pair for about half-hour earlier than persevering with the stroll. Upon returning later, one other grownup seal was close by, which some spectators speculated was the daddy.

Harbor seals are a typical sight round Ballard’s waterfront, together with Shilshole Bay and the Ballard Locks. During the annual salmon runs, in addition they collect close to the locks to feed on migrating fish, prompting fisheries managers to make use of non-lethal deterrents equivalent to underwater “seal crackers” to maintain seals away from the fish ladder and cut back predation on returning salmon.

Photos and video by Carsin Grace