Harbor Seals. Harbor seals, which are full time residents and broadly distributed in marine, coastal, and estuarine habitats, are the most likely pinnipeds to be affected by an oil spill in the Pacific Northwest. Harbor seals use hundreds of sites to rest or haul out along the coast and inland waters and can be found year round. Harbor seal pupping timeframes vary throughout the region and should be taken into consideration when an oil spill occurs. Harbor seal pups nurse for four to six weeks, and suckling may increase the risk of oil ingestion for the pup. Pups do not have a thick protective blubber layer and thermoregulation capability may be compromised by oiling. These additional concerns may warrant intervention on a case-by-case basis. If oiled harbor seals are reported to the Wildlife Branch, detailed observations on the animals’ location, behavior, age class, overall condition, and availability of rehabilitation resources will all be considered before intervention. Intervention on free swimming harbor seals is unlikely to be successful unless the animal in question is debilitated, making capture more feasible. If intervention is warranted, harbor seals should be recovered and treated by responders with marine mammal skill and experience. The number of animals that can be processed currently depends on the availability of space at local rehabilitation facilities with a letter of authorization from NMFS to handle, house, and rehabilitate harbor seals.
