(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - NOAA Fisheries marine mammal experts are actively monitoring a situation with a harbor seal pup seen hauled out at the Auke Bay boat ramp. With the busy, sunny holiday weekend, there is a high level of concern for this pup's safety. NOAA is asking for public cooperation.

"It is normal harbor seal behavior for mothers to leave their pups hauled out while they forage for food," said NOAA Marine Mammal Veterinarian Kate Savage. "However, if this pup has too much interaction with humans, the mother may abandon it. We hope that has not happened already. This pup appears to be in good health. We will be keeping an eye out to see if the mother is still in the vicinity."

NOAA is asking that you do not approach or interfere with this harbor seal pup in any way and to keep your pets on a leash in the Auke Bay vicinity to prevent disturbance.

Savage added that if the situation warrants, a specially trained team of marine mammal specialists will take steps to capture the seal pup for transport to the Sea Life Center in Seward, where it will be trained to fend for itself before being released back into the wild near its original location.

This animal is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Please report any harassment to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement by calling their 24-hour hotline: 1-800-853-1964.

Source of News: 

NOAA Fisheries in Alaska
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov or
www.afsc.noaa.gov.

SitNews ©2014
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper sources. E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.