Protected harbor seals harassed during pupping season in Pacific Grove

Marine scientists in the Monterey Bay say they’re concerned about harbor seals being harassed as pupping season gets under way. This weekend a group of men were seen hopping the fence at a Pacific Grove beach right on top of a seal habitat.

Witnesses captured pictures of three men running onto a beach through a group of harbor seals. Those pictures ended up on the harbor seals of Pacific Grove’s Facebook page in an effort to try and catch them.

The men are said to be around twenty years old and witnesses said they hopped over this fence, ran to the far side of Hopkins Beach and climbed up rocks to take pictures.

Witnesses and the city Pacific Grove said this scared the seals who are preparing to give birth.

Generally people come up to the nearby fence line to get a great view of the seals this time of year. But know not to disturb the animals.

“Well first of all I’m glad that I wasn’t here when it happened because I think that they would have some more shark bate out there. I mean these animals were here first and they have a right to be on the shore and that’s why the fence is here. I mean common sense tells you leave them alone,” tourist Steve Chisolm said.

Public works officials in Pacific Grove said they will be putting up an additional fence with signs as soon as they find out a seal has given birth. That could happen any day now, as the peak of pupping season is April and May. They said last year they put up an additional fence along Hopkins Beach and there was minimal intrusion on the beach.

They are hoping for the same this year. There are consequences if you are caught harassing the seals.