As seals make appearances in the winter months, beachgoers are advised to leave them be

February 21, 2024 | Island Features | By: Joy Crist

A seal on the OBX shoreline in February. Photo by Daryl Law, Communications Manager for Jennette’s Pier.

As locals know, one of the best aspects of combing the Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches in the wintertime is the prospect of spotting a seal that has popped up along the shoreline.

Although beachgoers may initially be concerned that the lounging seal is in trouble, the seals are actually just “hanging out” for a while to enjoy a rest and an impromptu beach visit before heading back into the water.

A seal resting on the beach. Photo: Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Seals generally start to make appearances in December, as the waters get cold enough for them to head all the way south to the North Carolina coastline.

This year, reports of seals on the Hatteras Island beaches have been somewhat rare, but there are still a few weeks of winter left for an uptick in seasonal seal activity.

According to SamWalkerOBXNews.com, the OBX Marine Mammal Stranding Network offers the following tips for beachgoers who discover a resting seal:

Give the seal a wide berth of 150 feet or more and keep pets on leashes.
Do not walk between a resting seal and its access to water. If you have to walk around a seal, walk on the land side and avoid blocking its exit route.
Be quiet around a resting seal! Loud or sudden noises will disturb them.
Never approach closely. Wild seals can carry diseases and parasites that you or your pet could get if bitten.
Kayaks, canoes, and boats please avoid close approaches to haul-out sites. Engineless crafts have been shown to elicit an alarm response, causing a resting seal to rapidly enter the water.
Never offer food to a wild seal. Seals are wild animals and feeding them not only allows them to lose their natural fear of humans, but is also illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and could carry a hefty fine.

If you do believe a seal is injured or in trouble, or if you just want to report a local seal sighting, you can contact the OBX Stranding Response Team at 252-455-9654.

Have photos of a seal you sighted on our beaches? Share with the MMSN, adding date, location, and your name. Email to ncstrandingpartners@gmail.com.