Two seals onshore today, one rescued
Jan/17/18 04:50 PM
Just before 10 am yesterday, Seal Sitters Hotline Operator Gretchen called First Responder David to let him know there was a seal onshore at the north entrance to Lincoln Park. David was just walking into the heavily used park, looking for the animal when his cell phone rang - it was Gretchen again! She had received a new report of another seal, this one resting near the Water Taxi landing on Harbor Avenue.
David sent out an urgent text that we had a second seal near Marination restaurant, pleading for some response help. SS volunteer Buzz rushed to the Elliott Bay cove, followed by First Responder Lynn. They established a tape perimeter to close off access to the seal that was identified as Uno (photo above). Uno decided to exchange a view of Puget Sound and the Olympics from Lincoln Park for that of the Seattle skyline, on the opposite side of West Seattle, in Elliott Bay.
Scheduler Abigail scrambled to try to find enough volunteers to cover two locations for the day. Thanks to volunteers Jay, Lori, Jonel and Dana who answered the plea and helped out at Cove 2. Uno rested until around 2pm, when the skies opened up with a torrential rain. Soaked volunteers left the area once they were convinced this fuzzy little sightseer wouldn't return.
It was obvious to David that the seal yesterday morning at the north end of Lincoln Park was in trouble. After taping off an area to keep the seal safe, he noticed the seal was very lethargic and weak. There was labored breathing through the mouth. Additionally, there was no visible reaction to a dog, barking just above on the path - activity that would have spooked a healthy seal.
A decision was made to contact one of the NOAA-trained consulting vets for a beach health assessment (required by NOAA’s regional office before any transport to rehab facility for treatment). Dr. Elizabeth Mansi agreed to examine the pup on site.
Scheduler Abigail was asked to redirect the volunteers that were coming to Lincoln Park to Cove 2 instead. After a brief exam, the veterinarian, along with First Responders Lynn and Robin, confirmed that the largely unresponsive weaner was indeed in “respiratory distress” with low heart rate and "terrible" lungs. Robin transported the seal to PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood for stabilization and treatment.
Sadly, the seal died overnight. Robin picked up the body from PAWS today for transfer to WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations Unit in Lakewood for necropsy, in hopes to determine cause of death. Huge thanks to Dr. Liz for her assistance yesterday.
