On Saturday, April 2nd, a caller reported to the Eureka Police Department that they had witnessed a couple take a seal pup from the bay and put it in an aquarium in their vehicle in the Samoa Bridge area.
Officers responded to the area and quickly stopped the vehicle and rescued the seal pup after being provided a detailed description of suspects and vehicle by the witness. The occupants of the vehicle were detained and the investigation by California Department of Fish and Wildlife is ongoing.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as the North Coast Marine Mammal Center responded to take over the investigation and care for the seal pup.
Marine mammals are protected federally by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The public is instructed by NOAA to keep at least 50 yards (150 feet) away from seals. State laws also protect marine mammals and violators can be charged criminally with a misdemeanor. It is unlawful to feed or harass wild marine mammals including dolphins, porpoises, whales, seals and sea lions.
If prosecuted, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement could enforce civil penalties up to 11,000, up to 1 year in prison plus criminal fines, and forfeiture of the vessel involved.
The North Coast Marine Mammal Center and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife would like to remind the public that this is the time of year many wildlife species from seals to deer leave their young unattended in safe areas, sometime hidden, while the mother leaves to feed. Many people assume a newborn seal is abandoned, but that is rarely the case. The best thing to do is keep your distance and leave the animal alone. The mother will return.
The seal pup is now in the care of the North Coast Marine Mammal Center and will cared for until he is old enough and eating fish on his own before being released back into the wild.
The North Coast Marine Mammal Center has named the seal pup ‘Kevin’, and his progress can be followed at Northcoast Marine Mammal Center for those interested in following his rehabilitation.
If people think an animal is in fact abandoned or hurt, they should not approach or touch it, and call the North Coast Marine Mammal Center at 707-951-4722.
