A newly born harbor seal pup was spotted swimming alongside its mother at Shilshole Bay Marina on Thursday, drawing a small crowd of onlookers.
Ballard resident Carsin Grace told My Ballard she came across the scene while taking an afternoon walk from the marina toward Golden Gardens Park.
“I was on a typical afternoon walk through the Shilshole Bay Marina to Golden Gardens, when I saw a small crowd of people looking over the dock rails,” Grace said. “Out of curiosity, I stopped to look assuming it would be a seal per usual.”
According to Grace, another spectator said the harbor seal had been seen pregnant on Wednesday, July 8, and believed the pup had been born within the previous 24 hours.
Grace said the mother and pup were slowly swimming around the marina together. The mother still had her placenta attached, while the pup’s umbilical cord was also still attached.
“Momma seemed to be resting, swimming down and laying on the floor for a couple minutes at a time,” Grace said. “Baby was very curious, swimming around the boats and learning how to swim in circles.”
Grace watched the pair for about 30 minutes before continuing the walk. Upon returning later, another adult seal was nearby, which some spectators speculated was the father.
Harbor seals are a common sight around Ballard’s waterfront, including Shilshole Bay and the Ballard Locks. During the annual salmon runs, they also gather near the locks to feed on migrating fish, prompting fisheries managers to use non-lethal deterrents such as underwater “seal crackers” to keep seals away from the fish ladder and reduce predation on returning salmon.
Photos and video by Carsin Grace