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The Daily Bucket - Friendly Seal and friends [1]

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Date: 2025-02-17

Jan-Feb 2025

Salish Sea, Pacific Northwest

We (meaning Mr O) had to wheel some fuel out to the boat the other day, which meant walking the 300-yard length of the dock to where our boat is moored. On approaching the floating section of the dock at the far end we spied seals parked on the dinghy dock, where the headwalk transitions down.

The local harbor seals favor the dinghy dock as a resting spot. It’s easy to get up onto, has a lot of space, good visibility, not affected by the tide, is close to rich fishing, and is very safe from people and other threats. In winter at least. In the high season of summer there’s a constant stream of slip owners coming and going, plus all the kayaks, crab pots and other gear clutter up the dinghy dock so it’s rare to see seals there, except at night.

The three seals this time were a bit put out by our showing up to disturb their rest. Ours is the only boat moored at the dock in winter and we only go out once every month or two, so the dock is essentially theirs for this season.

Dinghies and seals on the dinghy dock

I have a trailcam set up on the dinghy dock from which I get mostly false positives (the movement and sound of the dock activates the cam). But sometimes I get footage of seals resting out there all night long. They seem to notice the trailcam but aren’t spooked by it.



January 2022. FS and LWS, same individual as the farther seal in the current photo. Same dinghy dock haulout.

Our in-person encounter last week showed TWO light colored seals hanging out with Friendly Seal. For several years I’ve been calling a light colored individual in this bay who is smaller than FS “Little White Seal”; here’s a photo from 2022 —>

But I guess that name won’t work anymore. Both these whitish seals are pretty big too. In last week’s photos, Friendly Seal is closest to us and the farthest seal is definitely that same small one I’ve been seeing with her for 3-4 years, by its markings. The middle one is somewhat smaller/younger.

FS and pup last August (2024)

FS had a new whitish pup last summer but weanlings spend their first year in a group of age-mates, and I wouldn’t expect to see it now.

However the whitish seals with her this day might have been earlier pups. Her 2023 pup was lightcolored too (The Daily Bucket - midAugust on the sea, with a Friendly Seal/pup sighting) but I don’t think a 1½-year old seal would be this big. Perhaps another year’s pup, or a completely unrelated seal.

In general FS prefers that spot to haul out while the older LWS likes the farther corner. See the January 2022 photo above.

To get to the boat we had had no choice but to pass by this trio, which meant they’d certainly jump into the water. I filmed while Mr O wheeled the cart down the ramp. The middle seal was surprisingly tolerant of our presence. Interestingly all three were more wary of me than Mr O even though he was much closer. Maybe the camera looks scary? Or maybe they just feel more comfortable around him :)

1 minute video:



As you can see from a closeup view of the now-empty dock below, the seals clearly spend a lot of time there. Quite a few seal poops, fresh and old. The trailcam is attached to a post by the yellow barrel (but the batteries were dead after the weeks of cold weather so no footage from this day).

While Mr O put 5 gallons of diesel into the boat, one of the LW Seals watched from the water. They are keenly interested in what people are up to on the dock but they are wild creatures, and keep their distance.

We’re getting new canvas soon which requires a trip over to Friday Harbor for measurements. We need to be ready to go on short notice, so it’s best to be fueled up. We add some diesel about twice a year.

One seal watches. Notice how the color of a seal changes when it’s wet. This is one of the “white” seals who jumped off the dock.

🌊

Rainy and overcast in the PNW islands today. Breezy out of the south. Temps in the 40s.

What’s up in nature in your neighborhood?

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