A watchful volunteer mans a stretch of beach near QueensB次元官网网址� Park in Oak Bay, where fisheries officials hope a young elephant seal will just stay put.
If he doesnB次元官网网址檛 act up or B次元官网网址済o rogueB次元官网网址� like he did on Sunday, April 28, Emerson can stay and finish his moult there, says Paul Cottrell, marine mammal coordinator with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Cottrell and Emerson go way back. Far further than his stay in Greater Victoria waters. Last year, this time of year, Emerson finished his B次元官网网址渃atastrophic moultB次元官网网址� not far from where he snoozed on Monday.
B次元官网网址淲here he is currently is not the ideal spot because itB次元官网网址檚 so busy,B次元官网网址� Cottrell told the Oak Bay B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淭he public is amazing they all love Emerson and theyB次元官网网址檙e keeping their distance and being respectful.B次元官网网址�
The roster of volunteers take turns offering information to passersby and keeping an eye that Emerson doesnB次元官网网址檛 wander into the street, as he did the day before. Beach Drive was closed for several hours before Oak Bay police B次元官网网址� much like their peers at Saanich police a couple weeks earlier B次元官网网址� helped DFO steer young Emerson back into the water Sunday.
B次元官网网址淲e may have to relocate him if he does that again. WeB次元官网网址檇 prefer not to have to move him but for his safety and the safety of the public. HeB次元官网网址檚 not a small animal, heB次元官网网址檚 likely 500 pounds or so. HeB次元官网网址檚 very friendly for the most part but dogs and small children, if heB次元官网网址檚 startled, and of course cars, itB次元官网网址檚 not a good mix,B次元官网网址� Cottrell said.
B次元官网网址淚f he behaves we can let him finish his moult here. But IB次元官网网址檓 not sure thatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen.B次元官网网址�
The foray into the street and subsequent return to the water, did give Cottrell a chance to check out EmersonB次元官网网址檚 skin. He figures the young seal is halfway through his moult B次元官网网址� where their fur and top layer of skin comes off in large patches B次元官网网址� with at least two weeks left.
RELATED: F
A regular to the region, Emerson emerged at the Gorge Waterway in March. There he played in traffic too frequently and DFO relocated him to Barclay Sound. Within days, he reappeared in Greater Victoria, and has been beach-hopping since.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been all over different beaches in Oak Bay and Victoria the past week and a half, two weeks. ItB次元官网网址檚 kind of like, itB次元官网网址檚 not WhereB次元官网网址檚 Waldo itB次元官网网址檚 WhereB次元官网网址檚 Emerson. So thatB次元官网网址檚 been a challenge,B次元官网网址� said Cottrell. B次元官网网址淥f course weB次元官网网址檙e following him with the volunteers, the caution tape to protect him and the public, but it is a challenge. WeB次元官网网址檙e hoping that he stays put here. He looks happy but weB次元官网网址檒l see. And again if he does get into trouble in terms of in a high traffic area, high people area, where heB次元官网网址檚 in the neighbourhood weB次元官网网址檙e going to relocate him if that happens again.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 happened before where a harbour seal was struck by a car and killed.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want that for Emerson and we donB次元官网网址檛 want that for people driving,B次元官网网址� Cottrell said.
While Emerson seems to seek out a crowd, this is the season of the elephant seal moult, and any could appear on beaches in the region.
Anyone who sees an animal being harassed or injured, or an injured or sick animal exhibiting unusual behaviour is asked to call the DFO 24-hour hotline at 1-800-465-4336.
RELATED:
