A watchful volunteer mans a stretch of beach near Queens害羞草研究所� Park in Oak Bay, where fisheries officials hope a young elephant seal will just stay put.
If he doesn害羞草研究所檛 act up or 害羞草研究所済o rogue害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渃atastrophic moult害羞草研究所� not far from where he snoozed on Monday.
害羞草研究所淲here he is currently is not the ideal spot because it害羞草研究所檚 so busy,害羞草研究所� Cottrell told the Oak Bay News. 害羞草研究所淭he public is amazing they all love Emerson and they害羞草研究所檙e keeping their distance and being respectful.害羞草研究所�
The roster of volunteers take turns offering information to passersby and keeping an eye that Emerson doesn害羞草研究所檛 wander into the street, as he did the day before. Beach Drive was closed for several hours before Oak Bay police 害羞草研究所� much like their peers at Saanich police a couple weeks earlier 害羞草研究所� helped DFO steer young Emerson back into the water Sunday.
害羞草研究所淲e may have to relocate him if he does that again. We害羞草研究所檇 prefer not to have to move him but for his safety and the safety of the public. He害羞草研究所檚 not a small animal, he害羞草研究所檚 likely 500 pounds or so. He害羞草研究所檚 very friendly for the most part but dogs and small children, if he害羞草研究所檚 startled, and of course cars, it害羞草研究所檚 not a good mix,害羞草研究所� Cottrell said.
害羞草研究所淚f he behaves we can let him finish his moult here. But I害羞草研究所檓 not sure that害羞草研究所檚 going to happen.害羞草研究所�
The foray into the street and subsequent return to the water, did give Cottrell a chance to check out Emerson害羞草研究所檚 skin. He figures the young seal is halfway through his moult 害羞草研究所� where their fur and top layer of skin comes off in large patches 害羞草研究所� with at least two weeks left.
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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.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 been all over different beaches in Oak Bay and Victoria the past week and a half, two weeks. It害羞草研究所檚 kind of like, it害羞草研究所檚 not Where害羞草研究所檚 Waldo it害羞草研究所檚 Where害羞草研究所檚 Emerson. So that害羞草研究所檚 been a challenge,害羞草研究所� said Cottrell. 害羞草研究所淥f course we害羞草研究所檙e following him with the volunteers, the caution tape to protect him and the public, but it is a challenge. We害羞草研究所檙e hoping that he stays put here. He looks happy but we害羞草研究所檒l see. And again if he does get into trouble in terms of in a high traffic area, high people area, where he害羞草研究所檚 in the neighbourhood we害羞草研究所檙e going to relocate him if that happens again.害羞草研究所�
It害羞草研究所檚 happened before where a harbour seal was struck by a car and killed.
害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 want that for Emerson and we don害羞草研究所檛 want that for people driving,害羞草研究所� 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
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