A Hawaiian monk seal lays on its back on a beach near the surf, next to a sea turtle halfway in the water. Text on the image says "*slams laptop shut til Monday*"
And that’s a wrap on Seal and Sea Lion Week! We hope you had fun learning about our favorite pinnipeds.
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-stor...
#SealAndSeaLionWeek
If you do see a marine mammal that you believe to be sick or injured, you should contact trained and authorized responders in your area.
fisheries.noaa.gov/report
#SealAndSeaLionWeek
A graphic showing three people standing on a beach next to a seal. The people are asking “What should we do?” and text at the bottom reads “What if you see a seal, fur seal, or sea lion on shore?”
Illustration of a sea lion on the beach. Text reads “Why is it on shore? You might think these animals are onshore because they are sick, injured, or abandoned, but this is often not the case. They come on land or ice to rest, breed, nurse and rear pups, molt, and avoid predators. Also, some species temporarily leave their pups onshore while they forage at sea. Remember: 1) Do not approach, touch, or return them to the water; 2) Stay a safe distance away: at least 50 yards (150 feet); 3) Keep dogs leashed for safety; 4) Contact your local stranding network if it needs help
Illustration of a beach and the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response logo. Text reads: “How can you tell if it needs help?” and warning icons for each item: “Serious or potentially life-threatening injuries (excessive blood, open wounds); Unusual behaviour (head shaking, violent seizures, appear disoriented, foaming at mouth, observed eating rocks or sand); Severely underweight; Entangled. Report: If you observe any of these signs, keep your distance and contact responders in your area. URL: fisheries.noaa.gov/report”
Illustration of a beach with two photos of seals on beaches. Text reads: “Safety: Seals and sea lions can behave unpredictably if approached and can cause physical injuries. They can also carry infectious diseases that can spread to people and pets. It’s the law: All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is illegal for the public to harass protected species, which includes handling or closely approaching marine mammals.”
If not friend, why friend shaped?
We know seals and sea lions laying on shore look cute and it’s tempting to get close. You also might worry that they are sick, injured, or in danger, and want to touch them or move them back into the water. But don’t!
#SealAndSeaLionWeek
We spent a long time admiring this little one, who was catching a nap on the back of a boat during a product photoshoot last year. 🦭
If you're keen to protect #biodiversity or improve existing conservation programs, consider #eDNA. 🧬
Dive in ➡️ lnkd.in/gduqVrJY
#SealAndSeaLionWeek #Biodiversity
A photo of a sea lion sitting on a concrete floor near a plastic chair. Text reads "Meet Westley, an endangered Steller sea lion pup. He was found in a seafood plant in Unalaska a few days before Christmas."
A background of snowy hills and pine trees, with two photos styled like Polaroids. One shows the sea lion at the top of wooden steps and the caption says "Westley wandered through the seafood plant" and the other shows the sea lion laying on a table and the caption reads "He made his way into a workroom and settled on a table." Text reads: "Concerned community members called the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Stranding Network partners searched for his mom but couldn't find her. They knew he was in poor condition and needed help."
A map shows Unalaska in Alaska and Sausalito in California, with a swirly arrow connecting them. A Polaroid-style photos shows the sea lion in a crate being loaded onto a plane. Text reads: "We looked for a rehabilitation center with space to take Westley and found one 2,300 miles away. With help from partners and local volunteers Westley took a 3-day journey from Alaska to California."
Three polaroid-style photos on a beach background with hearts drawn on the top and bottom. The first shows a person opening the sea lion's crate with the caption "Westley arrived on Christmas Eve."
Here’s a heartwarming sea lion rescue story, just in time for Christmas. Oh wait, we mean Seal & Sea Lion Week! 🦭🎄
Follow the journey of a resilient endangered pup who found a second chance after a life-saving trip from Alaska to California: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-stor...
#SealandSeaLionWeek
A large male northern elephant seal lies on a sandy beach, looking at the camera. Other elephant seals are in the background.
A close-up photograph of a Hawaiian monk seal pup, identified as weaner RL08, lying on a sandy beach at the edge of the water. The seal is on its back with its eyes closed, resting its head on a broken coconut husk. The seal is dark gray and wet, with a round body and flippers spread out on the sand. The water and another dark rock are visible in the background.
The image shows a large, gray seal lying on a small patch of ice floating in the turquoise-colored ocean. The seal has a round body and is facing forward, with its whiskers visible. The animal is resting on the ice, which is surrounded by the water.
A close-up photograph of a leopard seal resting on a rocky and partially snow-covered beach. The seal is light gray with dark spots and appears to be sleeping, with its eyes closed and its body curled up. In the background, several King penguins are standing or walking on the beach, and one smaller brown bird is also visible. The ocean water is visible in the distance behind the birds.
Move over Fat Bear Week, it’s time for a chunky seal contest! 🦭
Who deserves the Chunkiest Seal crown? 👑 Vote for your favorite super-sized seal and let us know.
#SealAndSeaLionWeek
We also rehabilitate and release seals, count and tag pups, and help move them to safety as needed. It's all part of our 40-plus-year effort to protect and monitor this endangered population.
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-stor...
#SealAndSeaLionWeek
Close up of a monk seal laying in foliage with an eel hanging out of its nostril.
Even after decades of research, we still don’t know everything about the animals we study—for example, why Hawaiian monk seals sometimes get eels stuck in their noses. (And yes, it’s happened more than once!)
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-stor...
#SealAndSeaLionWeek
At first glance, seals and sea lions look fairly similar. But if you look closer, you can spot the differences—like their ears and flippers, the noises they make, and even the way they move.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQSa...
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-stor...
#SealandSeaLionWeek
Two sea lions sit on a grassy hill with purple flowers and a large rock covered in lichen. The pups are looking at the camera skeptically.
“Hope this email finds you well!”
*How your email finds me*
An email? On a Monday? These sea lion pups would never.
#SealAndSeaLionWeek
An illustrated graphic shows various seals and sea lions, including Steller sea lions, a Hawaiian monk seal, a spotted seal, and a bearded seal, in their habitat on land, ice, and in the water. Text reads "Seal & Sea Lion Week."
It’s #SealAndSeaLionWeek! These adorable marine mammals have been around for about 30 million years and are indicators of ocean health. 🌊 Some species can hold their breath for up to 2 hours and dive deeper than a mile when looking for food!
Follow along: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-stor...
