Harbor seals mating season draws visitors

It’s pupping season for harbor seals in Monterey Bay. These cute creatures have been drawing locals and visitors alike.

Volunteers said the last two years were devastating. The fish that seals eat swam north to colder water and about one-third of the seals starved to death.

Now that the water is cooling down, volunteers hope things will get better.

“There are healthy moms that are able to give full-term births, nurse them, there’s a whole bunch more that we’ve seen coming and going,” said Bay Net volunteer Thom Akeman.

As of now, there have been 11 successful births.

Volunteers said there are several dozen more pregnant seals that will be coming down this season.