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While perusing local social media channels this morning, LoCO came across a video on r/Humboldt of a man harassing what appears to be an elephant seal at Trinidad State Beach on Saturday afternoon, sparking outrage among commenters. (Several anonymous Reddit users were also upset that the person who took the video did not intervene in the situation, at least not in the recording.)

In the video, linked below, the man waves at the seal in a sort of “move along” gesture, seemingly encouraging the animal to go back to the ocean. He hovers over the seal and, several times, reaches down and attempts to push the seal into the tide. The recording stops with the man still standing near the seal, so it’s not quite clear where things left off.

Dear reader, let this be your lesson: Do not mess with local marine life! You will very likely be shamed on Reddit, and, given that all marine mammals are protected by federal law under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), you may face fines or jail time. 

Just last month, for example, a tourist was charged with harassing and attempting to harass a protected animal after he was caught throwing a rock at an endangered monk seal at a Maui Beach. The man faces up to one year in prison for each charge and fines exceeding $170,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.

Let’s give this guy the benefit of the doubt and assume that he was just trying to help an animal in distress. If you see a marine mammal on one of our beaches that appears to be in distress — whether it’s a seal or sea lion shedding skin as a part of its annual catastrophic molt or a tiny pup that appears to have been abandoned by its mama — you should contact the North Coast Marine Mammal Center (NCMMC) at (707) 951-4722. 

The Humboldt Wildlife Care Center handles calls for non-marine animals. If you see an injured animal, you can contact their office at (707) 822-8839.

In response to the Outpost’s request for additional information about stranded ocean dwellers, the NCMMC sent a text message noting that there are “several signs posted which usually go ignored,” and encouraged beachgoers to contact NOAA’s West Coast Region Stranding Hotline at (866) 767-6114.

If you want to take pictures of these adorable animals, go for it! Just don’t get too close. And for the love of god, do not touch them!

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UPDATE: Shortly after we published, a NOAA spokesperson shared the following statement:

The public is prohibited from harassing, harming, pursuing, wounding, killing, capturing, or collecting marine species protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, including all seals and sea lions. NOAA urges members of the public to observe marine animals from a safe and respectful distance, and do not approach or touch them. For seals and sea lions in the water, or on shore, our Share the Shore Guidelines encourage remaining at least 100 yards—about a football field—away. More information on responsible marine mammal wildlife viewing is available here. 

We encourage the public if you see an injured, stranded or dead animal please call NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 866-767-6114.

More information about how to share the shore with seals and sea lions can found here.