Seal breeding season reminder

MEMBERS of the public have been urged to be mindful of disturbing seals when visiting Wicklow’s coastlines this autumn.

September to December is a particularly important time for grey seals as it is the breeding season during which time the adults seek safe sites to ‘ haul out’ on land.

These are typically sheltered beach areas where the animals return year after year to breed, rest, moult and engage in social activity.

In the coming weeks, seals will give birth to a single pup which is born with a white coat and does not swim. Mothers will stay close to their pup for a number of weeks until it is weaned, during which time the animals are very vulnerable to disturbance by humans and dogs.

Wicklow County Council has asked people and dogs to maintain a distance of 100m or more from seals that are ‘ hauled out’ as coming close to them will cause stress and could cause a stampede, possibly leading to injury, drowning or death to small pups in particular.

‘Most ‘ haul out’ sites along the east coast of Ireland have public access,’ said Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer at Wicklow County Council,

‘ Therefore, the behaviour of people visiting the coast is hugely important. The Municipal Districts of Wicklow and Greystones are working in tandem with Seal Rescue Ireland to raise public awareness of this issue by erecting information signs at known ‘ haul out’ sites and restricting access to these areas as required.’

Disturbance can also lead to the abandonment of pups as mothers who are spooked by human contact will often not return for them. Orphaned pups have very little chance for survival and often Seal Rescue Ireland must intervene by bringing a seal into rehabilitation whereas without human disturbance the pup would have been successfully cared for and weaned in the wild.

A ‘disturbance’ can include any chance from normal behaviour and even seals who become alert due to humans at a great distance are exposed to dangers from stress, waste of energy, loss of rest, and potential loss of feeding/mating/ nursing or evasion of predator opportunities.

‘Our natural world is under increasing pressure from human influence and the Council is pleading with beach users to act responsibly,’ Ms Burns added.

Seals are legally protected under the Wildlife Act and it is illegal to approach them or allow dogs to do so.