Seal Pups Lose Their Moms, Find Care at Norddeich Station
Acceptance of First Howler of the Year at Sea Dog Station
Yo, people! It's the dpa reporting from Norddeich, and we've got some adorable critters to talk about - the first seal pups of the year, Meet Karla and Maca! These motherless cuties were discovered on the coast near Cuxhaven and Norderney and have been taken under the wing of the seal station here for care and rehabilitation.
Our seal station already takes in over 150 motherless, injured, or sick seals each year, with an increasing number of harbor seals added to the mix. Last Friday, a wandering pup was collected by the Bremerhaven fire department along the dyke and has now joined the party in Norddeich!
Karla and Maca, weighing 8.6 and 8.1 kilograms respectively, were initially kept in a quarantine facility, and then moved to our station.
Pups Found: Keep Your Distance and Contact the Station
Now, you might be wondering where all these seal pups are popping up. That's because seal birthing season is in full swing! Plus, with the long Whit weekend and the late Pentecost holidays, tourist crowds may have disturbed the seals.
Seal station director, Peter Lienau, is warning folks to keep their distance. "Every interaction with humans can lead to family separation," he said. He also suggested being subtle with pics. Lack of momma love can leave them weak and unable to follow mom.
Usually, solitary pups don't stay alone long, as mom's usually are out hunting. But if you spot a pup, it's best to call the seal station. That's until around August, and only call if you think it's truly motherless. After that, babies get their independence and no longer need mom's help.
Lend a Hand to Save the Seals!
Want to do your part? Our seal buddies in Norddeich are looking for some help! Here's how you can make a difference:
- Volunteer: Contact the local Seal Rescue Station for volunteering opportunities.
- Donate: Your financial support will help with costs related to food, equipment, and veterinary care.
- Spread the Word: Sharing the importance of seal conservation with others helps build support for this vital cause.
- Join events: Take part in community events like the Norddeich kite festival to raise awareness and funds.
- Donate resources: If possible, provide useful materials for rehabilitation.
By supporting these efforts, you can play a crucial role in caring for and releasing motherless seals back into the wild!
- The home-and-garden sector could potentially provide materials for rehabilitating the motherless seal pups housed at the home-and-garden-turned-seal-station in Norddeich.
- Adopting a pet is a completely different lifestyle choice compared to raising a motherless seal pup at home, but we can still lend a hand in saving the seals by volunteering, donating, spreading the word, joining events, or donating resources.
