Harbor Seal Pups

Protect Wildlife • Stay Informed

MacKerricher State Park is home to a harbor seal rookery, and mid-April through mid-May is the prime time to safely view these special creatures. If you plan to visit, please keep the following pointers in mind.

Please stay quiet around the rookery

Loud noises can disturb and scare mother harbor seals away from their pups. We are, after all, visiting their "home" and we need to be respectful with our voices!

No dogs in or near the rookery

Dogs look like a predator (no matter the size of dog) and can cause seals to flee or defend themselves! Dogs and seals can also share disease so for the health of your dog and the seals, please do not let your dog approach or interact with any seals.

Do not approach any seals

Humans are very scary to a harbor seal! We are big, loud, and move quickly. When harbor seals see a human get too close the seals may "flush" (go back into the water). This can be extremely harmful to harbor seals and their pups because these animals need time on land to rest, warm up, or to evade a marine predator (sharks/orcas).

During pupping season, if a mother harbor seal sees a human (what she will perceive to be a predator) approach her pup, she may leave and not come back for her pup. That pup is then left alone without a food source or any protection from predators.

Do not approach any harbor seal pups, even if you believe the pup looks abandoned. It is important to know that not every pup alone on the beach is an abandoned pup.

Mother harbor seals will leave their young on the beach to go hunting. Though you may not see the mother, she is always watching her pup while hunting. Approaching a lone pup on the beach could lead to abandonment. If you believe the pup has been abandoned call the Marine Mammal Center.

Please report marine mammals that appear to be ill, abandoned or in danger to The Marine Mammal Center at (415) 289-7325.