Bay Area A Hotspot For Marine Mammal Harassment, Experts Say

SAN FRANCISCO — The Marine Mammal Center, the world’s largest marine mammal hospital is reporting that data gathered in 2022 on the impact of human wildlife interaction highlights a complex and concerning threat for marine mammals in the San Francisco Bay Area and along the California coast.

The Center reports that wildlife harassment by people and dogs was a contributing or direct factor in more than 150 cases of marine mammals being rescued and admitted to the Center’s Sausalito hospital in 2022, accounting for 27 percent of all patients admitted last year.

The data also reveals that these incidents were just as prevalent in the summer and fall as they were during the Center’s busy spring pupping season.

"In the San Francisco Bay Area specifically, illegal pickups of harbor seal pups in Marin County and human and dog interactions with young seals and sea lions in San Francisco and San Mateo County were the standout harassment case examples," the center said in an email to Patch.com.

"A tragic case that illustrates the impact harassment can have on a marine mammal’s life is the story of a harbor seal named Snowcone," the center said. "This male pup who was young enough to still be nursing was rescued in April 2022 at Shell Beach in Sonoma County after being illegally picked up and separated from its mother by two beachgoers.

"Unfortunately, trained Center responders noted upon arrival to the scene that the pup had suffered severe head trauma consistent with a dog attack," the center said. "This incident likely occurred after the animal was moved away from the established rookery, or breeding area, to a part of the beach with numerous off-leash dogs. The pup sadly died as a result of its injuries on the way to the Center’s hospital."

Adam Ratner, Associate Director of Conservation Education said that while "the overall numbers of marine mammal harassment cases within the San Francisco Bay Area were less than those along the Central Coast," the center saw more severe cases of harassment locally.

"The tragic case of Snowcone highlights that we have a community that loves marine mammals and wants to help them," Ratner said. "But the only way to ensure the safety and wellbeing of these animals is to first call the experts and keep a safe distance until trained responders arrive.”

According to the Marine Mammal Center, crowding is the most prevalent form of harassment range-wide. And while crowding is definitely an issue for marine mammal harassment, a significant number of cases were more severe, including dragging the animal, touching it, attempting to feed it or pouring water on it. Harassment by dogs accounted for more than a quarter of all cases.

"While on the surface, taking a close-up selfie or having your dog off-leash near a marine mammal may seem cute and innocent, it can create real challenges, especially for young seals and sea lions," Ratner said. "These behaviors can separate young pups from their mothers, increase stress and potentially increase the risk for disease transmission between people and animals."

Utilizing the baseline data from 2022, the center will now be able to make year-over-year comparisons going forward. The data collected last year is also helping the Center’s team to utilize a multi-pronged approach this year to address the issue of human wildlife interaction, including working with behavior change experts.

According to the Marine Mammal Center, these initial efforts include trying to reach beachgoers, tourists and small businesses in key interaction hot-spot areas with information about how to safely share the shores and local waterways with marine wildlife.

The Marine Mammal Center is also seeking to identify what the motivations are for problematic behaviors such as touching, moving, harassing or taking up-close selfies with marine mammals and to identify attitudes, knowledge and demographics associated with those behaviors and the consequences of these problematic actions. The center is also looking to identify leaders in the community who can help spread the message of how to protect marine mammals.

Tips For Viewing Marine Wildlife

The Marine Mammal Center also asks the public to remember that they play an important role in the conservation of marine mammals by keeping these safe wildlife viewing tips in mind:

Keep Your Distance. Give marine mammals space to rest by enjoying them from a safe distance both on local beaches and in the water, and keeping dogs on a leash.

Use Your Zoom. It’s OK to take photos and admire the animals, but if an animal reacts to your presence, then you’re too close. No SEAL-FIES please!

Call the Experts. If you see a marine mammal in distress, do not intervene. Instead, call The Marine Mammal Center’s hotline at 415-289-SEAL (7325). Our experts will monitor the animal and, if necessary, send trained responders to rescue it safely.

Harassment Breakdown by County (all species):

• Santa Cruz – 35 cases (21% of all cases)
• Monterey – 31 cases (19% of all cases)
• San Luis Obispo – 30 cases (18% of all cases)
• San Mateo – 21 cases (13% of all cases)
• San Francisco – 13 cases (8% of all cases)
• Marin – 12 cases (7% of all cases)
• Sonoma – 8 cases (5% of all cases)
• Mendocino – 1 case (1% of all cases)
• Solano – 1 case (1% of all cases)