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