SEAFORTH, N.S. — More residents are calling animal rescuers about grey seal pups, who appear to languish for days on Nova Scotia beaches.
It’s all part of the early stages of the seal’s life, says Hope Swinimar, executive director of Hope for Wildlife.
While most callers describe normal seal behaviour, some seals do need help.
She said one caller this week described a seal that appeared particularly small and motionless on a beach near Antigonish.
Swinimar’s team travelled to assess the animal, and brought it back to their shelter to nurse it to health.
He was underweight and appeared to have been abandoned by his mother.
Swinimar said it’s normal for seal pups to look lethargic, but a skinny seal is cause for concern.
“They’ll often be very lazy and sleeping that’s very normal behaviour,” she said. “Do a quick assessment. If you see the ribcage in any way or if you see rolls of fat, that’s often the sign that they’re not healthy.
“They should look like a stuffed sausage in all honesty.”
Seal pups will likely continue showing up on beaches for the next few weeks. Grey seal litters were born earlier this month; harbour seals will be born in the early spring.
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