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| November is main pupping month for grey seals |
CLEETHORPES-area beachgoers are being urged not to disturb any seals they may see on or near the shoreline during the current pupping seasons.
Not all seals are stranded - many are simply resting, and disturbing them can be dangerous and sometimes even fatal to them.
Says a NELC spokesperson: "Seal sightings are common at this time of year as the winter pups begin to move further from their breeding ground at Donna Nook and come to rest locally.
"Newly-independent seals can happily swim up to 60 miles a day, which can take them as far as the Netherlands.
"If resting seals are disturbed, they can become distressed which can damage their health and use up vital energy they need to get home.
"Seals are also wild animals and they can carry diseases and cause injury to people if they feel under threat. They do have a nasty bite.
"Repeated disturbance can seriously affect a seal’s energy, and a seal on the beach may have many encounters with several people over one day.
"When seals are flushed into the sea, they may be injured from stampeding, gashing their bellies on rocks, tearing skin on sand or ripping out claws.
Cllr Henry Hudson, NELC's portfolio holder for the environment, says; "While the young seals are still finding their way around, we are more likely to encounter them on our beach which is their natural habitat.
"“They need to be left alone to rest after a hard day’s swimming and fishing until they’re ready to return home by themselves.
"They can be dangerous if they feel threatened and members of the public should keep away and please keep their dogs on leads."
Anyone who sees a seal in distress should contact the Resort Safety Team at 01472 323356.
Keep a watch from a safe distance and try to keep other people and dogs away until assistance arrives.
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| What a cutie - but seals can bite strongly if they feel threatened by dogs (photo: NELC) |
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