Richardson Bay is home to a large harbor sea population and you’ve probably seen these curious seals lounging on the Sea Trek Sausalito dock or swimming around the Bay. Spring brings pupping season for our harbor seal community and many new seals are born on the safety of Sea Trek’s dock!
The harbor seals that inhabit the waters off the coast of Sausalito typically mate in the fall or winter, and after a gestation period of approximately 9 months, the females give birth to their pups in the spring. During pupping season, which runs from March through June, visitors to Sausalito’s shoreline may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these adorable baby seals.
Harbor seal pups are born with fluffy white fur and weigh between 15-25 pounds. They rely on their mothers for food and protection, and spend most of their time sleeping and nursing during the first few weeks of their lives. As they grow stronger, the pups will begin to explore their surroundings and play with each other, learning valuable social skills that will help them survive in the wild.
While it may be tempting to approach or interact with these cute creatures, it is important to remember that harbor seals are wild animals and should be respected as such. It is illegal to approach or disturb them in any way, as this can cause stress and harm to the seals and their pups. Visitors can still observe the seals from a safe distance, either from the shore or from a boat.
Overall, harbor seal pupping season in Sausalito is a wonderful reminder of the beauty and diversity of our natural world. By respecting these creatures and their habitat, we can help ensure that they continue to thrive for generations to come.
Sea Trek calls upon the Marine Mammal Center to ensure the health and safety of the seals that are on or near docks. If you are concerned about a sick or injured harbor seal or one of their pups, please do not approach the animal, instead, contact a Sea Trek employee or alert MMC to properly address the situation. Learn more about reporting sick or injured marine mammals.
Seal Lullaby
By Rudyard Kipling
Oh! hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to find us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.
Where billow meets billow, there soft be thy pillow;
Ah, weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging seas.
Seal
By Mary Oliver
The great stony seals
sleeping on the beach,
they woke and
walked inland
past the shallows
and the ships,
and they
crossed the stone walls,
and entered the fields,
and I
followed.
Where the sea
had ranged like an animal
now there were vines,
spinach, roses,
and fields of mowing hay
with its sweet smell
as though if you had heard
some far rumour of summer.
And I stood there
in the cold morning,
and I waited
for something
to open.
