OCEAN CITY The number of
seals "hauling out" on local beaches
is causing more than a few interac-
tions with humans and pets, prompt-
ing the Maryland Coastal Bays Pro-
gram (MCBP) to reinforce the mes-
sage about giving the annual visitors
plenty of space and initiating a vol-
unteer seal steward program.
The MCBP works in concert with
National Aquarium's Marine Animal
Rescue Program (MARP) and other
partners to help ensure the visiting
seals are not harassed by residents,
visitors to the resort and curiosity-
seekers.
However, the charming visitors
are often hard to resist, forcing the
MCBP this week to remind people
it's against the law to touch, feed or
otherwise harass seals and those
viewing them on the beach are re-
quired to stay at least 50 feet away.
"This year, Ocean City is experi-
encing a significant increase in seal
sightings on our beaches and bays,
creating a lot of excitement and so-
cial media activity," said MCBP
spokesperson Sandi Smith. "Their
dog-like faces and lumpy bodies
make them adorably appealing and
seemingly approachable. However,
an up-close and personal encounter
with a seal can cause serious stress
and create a dangerous situation for
people and/or the seal."
Smith said an increased number
of reported seal sightings coupled
with larger than normal holiday
weekend crowd last weekend exac-
erbated the problem.
"Unfortunately, many that came
to view the seals were not aware of
proper seal viewing," said Smith.
"We encountered people taking up
close `selfies,' crossing underneath
a taped area to get closer to a seal,
standing over top a seal for an up-
close photograph and actually trying
to feed a seal. Others, allowing their
dogs to run without a leash on the
beach were surprised to find that
the lump on the ground was not a
piece of driftwood their dog was cir-
cling and sniffing, but a seal."
Smith said such encounters can
cause severe stress to the seals al-
though the level of stress is not
always immediately apparent.
"Although a seal may not appear
to be disturbed by such encounters,
this is far from reality," she said. "All
up close encounters pose serious
trauma to an exhausted wild animal
seeking rest and refuge on our
beaches."
Last year, MARP and the MCBP
launched an outreach program on
responsible seal viewing and sight-
ing reporting and the message was
received loud and clear by residents
and frequent visitors to the resort
during the winter.
However, many apparently have
not been made aware of the dan-
gers of close encounters, both for
the seals and humans and their
pets.
"As with any outreach program, it
takes several years for a message
to become practice," said Smith.
"Local and regional media have em-
braced the message and have done
an outstanding job of putting the
message out there, but after last
weekend, MCBP and MARP real-
ized we have a lot more work to do."
Smith said last weekend's en-
counters have prompted the MCBP
to begin recruiting volunteers as
"seal stewards." The volunteer posi-
tions will be an "on-call" opportunity.
When a seal hauls out on beach or
on rocks, jetties and piers, the
MCBP will ask the seal stewards to
man the haul-out area and help ed-
ucate beach visitors and dog walk-
ers to ensure safe and proper seal
watching for all involved.
Those interested in participating
in the volunteer seal steward pro-
gram can contact Smith at 410-213-
2297, extension 107, or by email at
sandis@mdcoastalbays.org.
The MCBP and MARP encour-
age those who spot a seal on the
beach to contact MARP's hotline at
800-628-9944, or register the sight-
ing on the MCBP website so a train-
ed observer can evaluate the condi-
tion of the seal and determine
whether it is in distress.
Precautions With Seals Urged
Page 18
January 24, 2014
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
By SHAWN J. SOPER
NEWS EDITOR
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