The P.E.I. National Park is reminding people to avoid seals. 

It’s a time of year when it isn’t unusual to see pinnipeds resting on Island beaches and the province is fortunate to have a variety of seals that call Island shores home, including grey, hooded and harp seals.

That’s why P.E.I. National Park park warden Doug Campbell and Hailey Paynter, an ecologist with the P.E.I. National Park, want you to remember to give the animals space.

“This is the time of year where some of those species are pupping,” Paynter explained. 

“Depending on the time of year and the conditions on the beach, it’s not uncommon to see seals, both adults and young, resting on our beaches.”

Paynter said how close to shore they get depends on each winter’s conditions, and it isn’t uncommon for seals to pup on ice floes, but they will shift to shore if ice is limited.

“Oftentimes, they’re not too far from the water’s edge as the mother seals will come in and out sometimes while they’re feeding to tend to their young,” she said. 

She noted, the pups will remain there until ready to swim and forage on their own.

“And if an animal is stressed or feeling herded back into the water, going into those cold waters before they’re ready physiologically and mentally and developmentally can be very detrimental to the health of those young seals,” she said. 

“But we haven’t seen or haven’t had any seals reported on the beaches this year, and I suspect that’s because there’s lots of ice around the Island this winter.”

Actions to avoid

Campbell called it “a privilege” to see wildlife when visiting a National Park and people have a responsibility to not disturb the animal, which includes not getting too close or feeding. He noted failure to abide by these terms could be an infraction of the National Parks Act and comes with a fine of up to $25,000. 

“Say you encounter a seal on the beach, you give it a wide berth, you don’t get too close to it. That’s for your own safety as well,” he said. 

“The seals are on the shore probably to save a bit of energy. And if you’re … causing them to go back into the water, that’s disrupting what they would naturally be doing.” 

Other actions to avoid, Campbell said, include trying to entice the animal into posing for a photograph by attempting to get its attention, but a photo from a safe distance that doesn’t disturb the seal is fine.

Campbell also explained that domesticated animals such as dogs must be on a leash at all times and be under physical control. He added the beach is off limits to dogs between April 1 and Oct. 15 for visitors’ safety and to protect shorebirds and nesting periods.

He said they’ve experienced situations where park visitors think they are helping the animal and attempt to corral the animal back into the water. He said he thinks people have the seals’ “welfare at heart” but, if a visitor is concerned about a seal’s behaviour, the proper recourse is to contact the park dispatch.