Grey Seal Pups
The pups are suckled on land by their mother. However, the pup is in great danger when left exposed on the beach. These dangers include:
Dangers to Pups on the Beach | Drowning This is probably one of the most common hazards. This can happen on the large spring tides or if the pup is disturbed and frightened into the water. Starvation. If there is a lot of disturbance on the beach, the cow will not return to the pup. Infection Young pups are particularly prone to infections, especially to the eyes and respiratory tract. Abandoning Cows may abandon their pups due to inexperience or disturbance on the beach. Without regular feeding, the pup will die in 3 to 4 days. Predation Ill or weak pups are very susceptible to predation by crows and gulls. They usually kill them by pecking their eyes out. |
It is possible that you might come across a Grey Seal Pup as you take a stroll along a rocky seashore any time during the months October to December. What should you do?
Observation | What
Should I Do? Observe from a distance until the next full tide, unless it is obviously sick or injured. Interference too early may prove fatal. How Old is
the Pup? If the pup is unweaned, check for the mother at sea. This may take some time. Does The Pup
Look Well Fed? Does the Pup
Look Healthy? |
Don't worry if the pup is quiet. It is probably asleep and will remain so until approached closely. If the pup appears well rounded and healthy and, in the case of an unweaned pup. the mother can be seen, leave it well alone and make sure other people do so as well. The only exceptions to this are; rough seas, marauding dogs and curious people.
|
Unweaned
pups are not good swimmers and older pups may be hauled out for a good reason.
If the pup is obviously ill, suffering respiratory problems or is definitely
abandoned, it should be rescued.
Rescuing A Pup |
|
DO NOT provide loose bedding, since ingestion may prove fatal.
DO NOT provide heat such as a heat lamp
or electric heater. If the
animal is
very cold, towel off excess water and use a fan
heater for
a very short time, just long enough to take the
chill out
of the air.
DO NOT use disinfectant without veterinary
advice.
DO NOT use cows milk or baby milk on seal
pups.
Get
in touch with THE IRISH SEAL SANCTUARY or your local Seal Sanctuary as soon
as possible!
The
Irish Seal Sanctuary Emergency Telephone
Tel: Dublin (01) 8354370
Copyright
2000-2012 by the Irish Seal Sanctuary. All rights reserved.