Seals return to Maryland coastal bays

Ocean City recently had its first reported seal haul-out. An early morning jogger noticed a seal on the beach and reported it to the National Aquarium’s Marine Animal Rescue Program.

When a sighting is reported, a response team is immediately dispatched to determine whether the animal is in distress or has come ashore to rest.

Seal sightings in Delmarva, both in the bays and ocean, are a normal occurrence during the winter months. Seals are semi-aquatic animals, which means they often spend a portion of each day on land. Seals need to “haul out” for a variety of reasons — to rest, pup and molt.

Young seals may haul out for up to a week. The seals we see on our Delmarva beaches are normally young seals that have hauled out to rest — or they are in distress.

Seals we see in the bays are typically migratory and chose our waterways as a temporary habitat. Four years ago there was a colony of at least eight seals resting on Drum Island during a period of several weeks.

Several West Ocean City residents living behind the island actually reported seals in their front yards. There hasn’t been a colony of that size observed since then; however, each year smaller groups of two to four have been observed living for a period of time in our coastal bays.

Many folks do not realize seals are common winter visitors, or that an up-close human or dog encounter can lead to a bad event for all parties involved. Maryland Coastal Bays partnered with the Marine Animal Rescue Program and the town of Ocean City in an outreach program designed to avert unnecessary stress to the seals and those encountering them.

Seals have an appealing, adorable presence and appearance. Like the Assateague ponies, one cannot help but want to get closer, and even touch or feed them. But such human contact does more harm than good and ultimately leads to bad results. Like our cherished Assateague ponies, seals are large, wild animals and can be extremely dangerous. They can bite and serious infections can be transmitted to you or your pet.

Seals are mammals, as are we. They are susceptible to a variety of diseases and may pass them on to humans, including nasty viruses such as herpes and rabies. In addition, they may harbor bacteria and fungi.

Increased contact with people eventually leads seals to habituate to humans. Habituated seals are more likely to suffer from negative human interactions and are less likely to avoid dangerous situations. For example, feeding seals encourages them to approach boats looking for handouts. This behavior has resulted in injuries from boat propellers. It is much safer for the seals to stay fearful of boats.

Seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is against the law to touch, feed or otherwise harass seals. Harassment occurs when your behavior changes their behavior.

The rule is to keep at least 50 yards away — four car lengths — to give them their space. Avoid being noisy and report your seal to Marine Animal Rescue Program at 410-576-3880 or 1-800-628-9944.

With the help of citizens, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, the Marine Animal Rescue Program and other partners, we are distributing this message and creating a source of information on local seal habits to aid scientists in the conservation of this significant and majestic species.

Maryland Coastal Bay’s Seal Steward Program has become an integral component to this initiative. When a seal hauls out and a response team deems the seal healthy, the stewards take two-hour shifts watching the seal and making sure beachgoers keep a safe distance.

They are also there to provide specific information on the seal they are watching.

Coastal Bay’s website has a map of seal sightings and photographs of current and past sightings. If you see a seal on the beach, we encourage you to please call the rescue program. If you see one in the bay, we ask you to please report it to the Coastal Bays program — unless you think it’s in distress, in which case please call Marine Animal Rescue Program.

Either register it on the website or call 410-213-2297, ext. 106, and we’ll register the seal, so we can tally this year’s sightings.

Close approaches should be avoided, as they may elicit an alarm response, causing seals to rapidly enter the water. An exhausted seal becomes vulnerable to predators and illness. We suggest you limit your viewing time to 30 minutes, as your continued presence may cause unnecessary stress.

Sandi Smith is the development and marketing coordinator for Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

SEAL SIGHTINGS

•If you see a seal that appears to be in distress, call the Marine Animal Rescue Program at 410-576-3880 or 1-800-628-9944.

•If you spot a seal that appears to be just resting, register it with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program at www.mdcoastalbays.org or call 410-213-2297, ext. 106, and we’ll register the seal, so we can tally this year’s sightings.

•If you would like more information or have a group that would be interested in a presentation on our seal program, email Sandi Smith at Maryland Coastal Bays Program, sandis@mdcoastalbays.org or call 410-213-2297, ext. 106.