Recently, a young seal has been resting on the beach in Scarborough, and it’s understandably attracted a lot of attention from members of the public. While it’s lovely to see wildlife up close, it’s important we all do our part to keep marine wildlife — and the public — safe.

It’s not unusual to see seals resting on our coastline — they often haul out onto beaches to rest, digest food, or escape rough seas. Most of the time, they’re perfectly fine and simply need space. If you come across a seal, please follow these simple steps to keep both you and the animal safe:

✅ Do:

·  Give the seal plenty of space — at least 100 metres if possible.

·  Keep dogs on a lead and children close by to avoid disturbing or frightening the seal.

·  Observe quietly from distance. Loud noises or sudden movement can cause stress.

·  Look out for signs of injury such as bleeding, entanglement, or the seal appearing very thin.

·  Report concerns to the appropriate wildlife rescue organisation if the seal appears sick, injured, or is being disturbed.

❌ Don’t:

·  Do NOT approach, touch, or attempt to move the seal. They can bite and are powerful animals.

·  Don’t push the seal back into the sea. Resting on land is normal and necessary for their health.

·  Don’t feed the seal. This can cause harm and encourages dangerous behaviour.

·  Please don’t approach the seal to take photographs or selfies. Repeated close contact can cause significant stress and may influence how a young animal perceives people. This can lead to lasting behavioural changes as the animal grows older.

📞 Who to Contact if You’re Worried

If the seal looks injured, underweight, in distress, or if people are interfering with it, please contact:

·  British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR): 01825 765546

·  RSPCA (England & Wales) Emergency Line: 0300 1234 999

·  Local wildlife or coastguard services if the seal is in immediate danger.

What to do if... - British Divers Marine Life Rescue

Marine and coastal wildlife code: advice for visitors - GOV.UK