SEALS Program

RESPONSIBLE WILDLIFE VIEWINGCommunity Commitment and VisionVOLUNTEERS AND PARTNERS SUPPORT THE SANCTUARYMotorboatactivity easilydisturbs restingharbor seals. Itis important formotorboats tostay at least 300ft. from shore.A head-alert is whena seal raises its head.This is the first signthat harbor seals aredisturbed.A flush whenharbor sealsretreat into thewater for safety.Our volunteers and collaborating partners are vital to the success ofthe SEALS program.• 256 SEALS volunteers from 1997 to 2004 in Tomales Bay andBolinas Lagoon• SEALS volunteers donated over 6,696 hours to the program from1997 to 2004View animals from a distance of at least 300 ft.If an animal’s behavior changes because of yourpresence, it may be frightened and view you as athreat. If the animal raises its head and looks atyou, move away immediately.The proximity and curiosity of visiting people canalarm seal colonies. If seals are flushed into thewater, their important resting time is disrupted.Pups can become separated from their mothers.Eventually, chronic disturbance may result in areduced birth rate and even abandonment of thehaul-out sites.“The NOAA SEALS program has championed the stewardshipof harbor seals in Tomales Bay and reversed the precipitousdecline in their numbers from the previous decade.”Sarah G. Allen, Ph.D., Senior Science Advisorfor Point Reyes National Seashore“Being a Sanctuary steward is such an immeasurableprivilege. It’s like being on a National Geographicexpedition without needing the graduate degree... a truepeek at nature from a perspective not available to thegeneral public.”Rick Whitney, SEALS volunteer