Seal pup? Stay away! Says MSPCA

Keep your distance from seal pups, even if they appear to be stranded or abandoned.

That's the message from the Manx SPCA as seal pupping season beings.

The charity says a female will leave her pup while she goes out to sea to hunt for food and so a passer-by may assume the pup has been abandoned. 

However, she will come back to shore every few hours to feed her offspring, and while her pup will rapidly put on the pounds, she will lose about a quarter of her body weight.

They add the animals tire easily, particularly in stormy weather and rough seas, and  will haul out onto the nearest beach or rocks - which then makes them vulnerable to human, and canine, disturbance. 

However, unless the animal is visibly or seriously injured, they won't 'intefere with nature' with Seals protected by the Wildlife Act 1990.

Organisers warn pups might look cute and fluffy, but they can be aggressive and  have a ferocious bite, even if you think it’s lifeless, people are urged to simply observe and keep a distance of at least 50 metres.

General Manager of the MSPCA Juana Warburton explains why people should stay away: