Sea Lion behavior can be misleading
Sea Lion behavior can be misleading
Sea Lions will often engage in "rafting"or ventilating in which they roll on their side and hold a flipper up out of the water, especially after eating. It can look as if they are in distress and the flipper can be mistaken for other kinds of marine life. This behavior is completely normal.
Patrick Robinson
Sun, 02/21/2010
The recent shootings of Sea Lions in Puget Sound have made people far more sensitive to marine mammals so it was not surprising to see dozens of people transfixed by the sight of an elevated flipper just off Point Williams (where Colman Pool is located) in Lincoln Park on Sunday the 21st. Many on the scene conjectured that it was an Orca or a whale and others thought it was dead.
It was in fact a Sea Lion, but it was not dead or injured. It was engaging in typical behavior for the species.
Janette Wilson of SealSitters.org said what was observed is a behavior which enables sea lions to regulate their temperatures. Also known as "ventilating". If you go to www.sealsitters.org and check out our "Blubber Blog" around the September time frame, you will find similar documented episodes. We attempted to provide public education during that time through the following link:
http://www.sealsitters.org/learning/about_sea_lions.html " Robin Lindsey of Seal Sitters added further clarification "when one sea lion "thermoregulates" by raising their flipper in the water that is know as "sailing". When a number of sea lions band together and do it, that is known as "rafting". The 'sailing' behavior is discussed on their link here http://www.blubberblog.org/files/0d9024d17c3d6d76ce0cd49109095664-19.ht…
Seal Sitters is a non-profit, grass roots group of neighborhood volunteers who have established the 206-905-SEAL (7325) Hotline as a safety net for our local seal watchers. Seal Sitters has also established a web site to keep the public informed and educated regarding activities and potential impacts to our local marine neighbors.
Seal Sitters also pointed out the many of the early media reports about the Sea Lion deaths were inaccurate on their "Blubber Blog".
http://www.blubberblog.org/files/80b8ff324f828fe64111fb4ba8e37e0a-63.ht…
Seal Sitters said that it is normal for a seal pup to be on the beach to rest and warm up. However, if you see a pup (or other marine mammal) on the beach that appears stranded please call the NOAA Stranding Hotline 206.526.6733 to report the location. If the animal is on a West Seattle Beach please call Seal Sitters at 206.905.7325. Be as precise as you can with a location. They will dispatch a volunteer (if available) to confirm your report.
