Public urged to stay away from moulting elephant seal at Colquitz Creek

Public urged to stay away from moulting elephant seal at Colquitz Creek
CHEK

A beached seal at Colquitz Creek on May 29, 2018. Credit: Kim Hunter.

A beached seal at Colquitz Creek on May 29, 2018. Credit: Kim Hunter.

Members of the public were asked to stay away from a moulting elephant seal at Colquitz Creek near Tillicum Centre Tuesday.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) confirmed the seal was a moulting elephant seal.

According to the DFO, the animal was having breathing difficulties. Its breathing is laboured and it is huffing and puffing.

Officials were going to put up signs and barriers, but by the Tuesday evening, the seal had left the area.

DFO Marine Mammals Co-ordinator Paul Cottrell said elephant seals can end up in places people wouldn’t expect when they are going through the moulting process.

“It’s amazing where they end up,” Cottrell said.

Cottrell said it is important to give a moulting elephant seal space and to not allow dogs off leash to harass it.

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