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Carpinteria
Seal Watch |
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In 1988, an informal citizens group was
formed to protect the Carpinteria harbor seal colony. This group monitors the
colony from January through April of each year: Their job is to educate the public
about the need for protecting the seal colony.
The seal watchers have been granted access by Venoco to the bluffs overlooking
the colony. They will not hesitate to call authorities if any human-related disturbances
are noted. Be a good neighbor and leave the seals alone. |
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First
Aid for Seals |
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• If you notice a seal that needs help, call
the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center at 805-687-3255
• If the seal is on a public beach, keep people and dogs away until
help arrives.
• Do not pour water on a beached seal.Seals haul out to get warm
or when they are sick. Wetting them does not help them.
• Avoid approaching the animal closely and never touch it. Even
though it may appear friendly, it is a wild animal and will bite. Also, it may
carry diseases that you can catch.
• Never remove any seals from the beach. Seals are protected by
federal law and you must have a permit to handle them. It is a felony for unauthorized
persons to handle seals.
• If you find a pup, leave it alone. Mothers often leave pups on
the beach while they are offshore feeding. The mother may abandon the pup if
you handle it. |
As you walk out onto the Casitas Pier, you are passing a very special place.
To your left is a harbor seal colony, where the seals bear their young, breed
and haul out to rest. Well over 300 harbor seals have been seen here on occasion.
This colony has existed for over a century. Moreover, it has thrived next
to the bustling Casitas Pier, which for decades has served the oil industry.
It is also near the onshore processing facility which has existed for years.
Remarkably, this seal colony is only one of two such places along the Southern
California coast that is readily accessible to the public. The fact that the
seals have remained all these years is a credit to the oil industry and to the
previous operator of the facilities. Venoco is dedicated to continuing the protection
of this valuable and sensitive habitat.
This seal colony is a special place for the citizens of Carpinteria, who's
goal is make certain the colony is preserved so that future generations may enjoy
watching the seals as they nurture their young or haul out to rest. Venoco shares
this goal believing that being a good neighbor is part of its commitment to the
community.
Seals and the Law
The harbor seal colony is protected by law and should not be disturbed in
any way. This includes making loud noises, conspicuous gestures or approaching
past the warning signs.
Harbor seals, like all marine mammals, are federally protected. Disturbing
them in any way is a felony, punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and/or one
year in jail per count.
To further ensure the protection of this seal colony, the City of Carpinteria
passed a law which closes the beach from 750 feet to either side of the colony.
It is illegal to walk on the beach from December 1 through May 31.
Life History Notes
Pacific harbor seals are "true" seals: on land, they move like big
blubbery caterpillars; in the water, they swim with their hind flippers.
The harbor seals in Carpinteria usually bear their young in February and March.
Few pups are born as early as December or as late as May. The pups usually weigh
12 to 15 pounds at birth. By the time they are four to six weeks old, when they
are weaned, they can weigh 35 to 50 pounds or more.
Harbor seals feed on fish, octopuses,some crabs, and other bottom-dwelling
organisms. They can dive well over 1000 feet and stay down for more than 45 minutes.
Harbor seals generally return to the same haul-out area year after year. They
usually live and feed within a day's swim of the colony. A few individuals have
ventured as much as 500 miles from their colony.
Harbor seals can live more than 40 years. An adult harbor seal can weigh over
300 pounds. There are a few visible differences between males and females.
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