Aimar Rakko, Head of the Hunting and Aquatic Life Bureau at the Estonian Environmental Board, said that grey seals reproduce both on land and on ice, and that after the pups have been nursed for around 16 days, the ‘weaning’ period begins, when the pups have to spend more time on their own. ‘Before heading out to sea, pups can stay alone on land for as long as 2–4 weeks, and during this sensitive period, the seal pup sheds its fluffy and white pup fur and grows a short spotted adult fur that is much better suited for aquatic life,’ Rakko said.
For a seal pup on dry land, a person or a curious dog is a source of great stress and can drive it into the water. However, this can be dangerous for the seal pup, because wet pup fur will not protect it from the cold and, in the worst case, bathing can lead to hypothermia and even death. At this vulnerable age, seal pups rarely go into the water and do this only when they want to.
Aimar Rakko explained that a seal pup can even be a few hundred metres from the sea, but it can usually get back to the water's edge without any help when it wants to. ‘Only if a seal pup has got into an area that is dangerous for it, such as the side of a major road, or if the animal has obvious injuries, please call 1247 to report it. If necessary, the animal will be assisted by specialists, and an ordinary person must definitely not take the seal pup home with them to, for example, treat it,’ Rakko stated.
Rather than photographing, feeding or touching a seal, it is best to stay away from it. ‘In fact, some scratches on the skin and some discharge from the eyes are also common in seal pups of a certain age, and these usually heal on their own and do not require human intervention. Humans should not intervene with wild baby animals – they must be left in peace. We strongly advise dog owners to keep their pets on a leash when walking on the shore, as even a friendly dog with its joyful attitude will cause excessive stress to a seal pup,’ Rakko stressed.
