06.17.10
Seal Pups
While you walk the beach in Wells, you will find a lot of large and small wildlife. Seals are the most commonly seen marine mammals along the shores of Maine, particularly at this time of the year. Spring is harbor seal pupping season in northern New England.
A large number of seal pups appear each year on New England beaches, apparently stranded, but their mothers, who are feeding nearby, often only temporarily abandon these pups. It is not unusual for a seal pup to be left alone on the beach by its mother for up to 24 hours. It is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to handle these animals. These seals are cute and it is very tempting to touch and pat them but you should not. The National Marine Fisheries Service recommends that any stranded animal be left alone. It is against the law to handle a marine mammal without proper authorization, and their sharp (dog-like) teeth can be very dangerous. To report any stranded marine mammal, or if a seal appears to be abandoned, appears on a crowded beach, or shows signs of illness or injury, you can notify the Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline, 1-800-532-9551 or our front desk staff will call them for you. The beach is a great place to learn about respecting and caring for the animals that live here.