Seal Gives Birth At Seattle Marina [Video]
From the archive: published Jul 31, 2013, 13 years ago. Details may have changed since.
A harbormaster in Seattle was treated to a rare sight this week when a harbor seal gave birth at a marina in Seattle. The sight of a seal isn’t too unusual in the region, which is home to several of the creatures.
However, what is unusual is a single seal on the Elliot Bay Marina giving birth. Harbormaster Brian Kaloper spotted the scene when he arrived at work on Monday morning.
KATU reports that Kaloper recalled of the scene, “I looked down the dock and noticed there was a seal, which for that particular dock was odd because there’s so much foot traffic there. I just thought it was kind of odd.”
The Harbormaster went into his office to look at the security footage, which is when he realized why the seal was there. He commented, “I told everyone in the office — this thing is giving birth. It was pretty incredible.”
So, marina staff did what they could to keep the seal from being disturbed, including locking the door to the dock to protect the mother and baby. Three Sheets Northwest commented that Kaloper and other staff watched as the seal labored and took breaks, ultimately giving birth to a healthy seal pup.
The mother then turned and nudged her baby’s face and body, making sure it was okay. Staff kept the marina area closed for a few hours until the pair hopped into the water and left.
Kaloper added that he and his staff are used to seeing wildlife around the marina, as Seattle is known for its abundant marine life. However, He added, “But to catch nature in its most pure form on camera during a regular Monday was unbelievable.” And it’s not something they will forget seeing anytime soon.
As for mother and baby? Staff at the Elliot Bay Marina saw the pair swimming near the facility the next day. Kaloper posted a video of the harbor seal giving birth on YouTube. The video has been viewed more than 231,000 times.