Tag Archives: Harbor Seal pup being born

1 Comment

Kate Bloch wrote, "This afternoon, I had the extraordinary privilege of witnessing the birth of a seal pup on Tide Pool Beach.  (This is the second such birth I've been lucky enough to observe.)  It was heartwarming and inspiring, capturing a remarkable moment of nature's magic.  It's seems especially timely that the birth took place on Earth Day.I have attached five photos.  They begin with the early emerging of the amniotic sac, reveal the moment of birth, and offer glimpses into the bonding between the mother and newborn, and their first swim together."

Tide Pool Beach April 22.2024
Tide Pool Beach April.22.2024

Now that the pup is born, the mother will bond with her. They touch noses!

Tide Pool Beach Birth April 22.2024
Tide Pool Beach April 22. 2024

Harbor Seal pups are born knowing how to swim. Here the newborn pup takes her first swim with her mother on Earth Day.

Tide Pool Beach April 22.204

Thanks to Kate for allowing me to share her great series of photos with you here.

Oh my, we had a good storm arrive in the wee hours of the morning. 1.86 inches fell, much more than predicted. It was a fairly gentle rain so there are only a few wisteria blossoms down at my place! Season to date rain total is 57.68 inches. 50.00 inches is a normal wet year, so two excellent rain years in a row now. Hooray!

Harbor Seal pups are being born on secluded coves. The bluffs at The Sea Ranch are one of the places you can quietly watch without disturbing them. Barbara Thrush saw a birth from start to finish.

A Harbor Seal pup being born by Barbara Thrush Mother Harbor Seal looks at her pup being born by Barbara Thrush

Finally the little one is born.

And the Harbor Seal pup is born by Barbara Thrush

Next the pup and its mother bond. They are also marking each other's scent so they can find each other.

A newborn Harbor Seal pup bonding with its mother by Barbara Thrush

And lastly the newborn pup tests the waters with mom watching close by.

A newborn Harbor Seal pup in the water by Barbara Thrush

Once again let me caution people not to "rescue" a pup left alone on a beach. The mother will leave her newborn while she fishes to feed herself. She will return!

Thanks to Barbara for allowing me to share her wonderful photos with  you here.