Seal Silly Season strikes again: Teenage Seal wanders into a Northland Bunnings
The young fur seal ventured casually into the Bunnings store. Photo: Supplied to NZ Herald.
A teenage fur seal wandered into Whangārei Bunnings in an early morning fluffy ramraid as seal silly season strikes New Zealand again.
Staff and customers at the Northland store were surprised by the wandering Seal and contained it until DOC rangers arrived. 1News reported that the Seal had nearly been run over on State Highway 1 in Raumanga before attempting to take shelter in the Bunnings as the store opened that morning.
Speaking to 1News, Bunnings Whangārei complex manager Sara Yates said when she was told, she thought her team was joking until seeing the Seal herself.
"While keeping clear from it, we tried a couple of times to barricade it so it didn't go inside, but we quickly learnt she was a smart one and actually held a bit of weight behind her as a couple of teams tried to use shields to divert her back outside," she said to 1News.
Using boxed dishwashers and ovens, staff created a makeshift home to keep the Seal safe.
Department of Conservation marine rangers quickly arrived at the scene after being contacted on their hotline.
Two rangers rescued the Kekeno - New Zealand fur seal and returned it to Reotahi Marine Reserve.
Marine Ranger, Evan Davies said the juvenile seal appeared in good condition if not a little skinny and that Bunnings did the right thing by immediately calling DOC for assistance.
DOC Rangers setting the seal free. Photo: Supplied to the NZ Herald
DOC Rangers setting the seal free. Photo: Supplied to the NZ Herald
The incident is one many of many that mark the beginning of the ‘Seal Silly Season’ which occurs every year. Much like freshers during O-week, young seals leave their breeding colonies for the first time to explore the wider world.
The juvenile Seals are often young and inexperienced, making them prone to misbehaviour or misadventure. The silly season goes on between May and September with DOC warning kiwis to watch out every year.
Marine Science Advisor Laura Boren said that despite it occurring every winter, it still takes people by surprise.
“Fur seal populations are recovering quickly, this means people need to be prepared to encounter seals anywhere around our coastline, even in areas where they haven’t seen seals before, and particularly over the winter months,” she said.
In Otago Seals are often rescued after becoming entangled in fishing gear, and in 2021 one determined seal in the Waikato ventured to the Hobbiton movie set, 90 km inland. Another adventurist Seal made international headlines last year after breaking into the home of a marine biologist through the cat flap and then terrorising the family cat.
Boren said people may feel concerned seeing young pups alone, or seals regurgitating, sneezing, coughing, or crying.
“This is all part of their normal behaviour, and they are very resilient animals. Watch, enjoy them from a distance, and let them be. Call the DOC hotline only if they are in immediate danger, like relaxing on a road, severely injured, or tangled in debris.”
DOC takes a hands-off approach with seals and will only intervene if the animal is in danger, or in high-traffic urban areas.
If you see a seal which is severely injured, being harassed, or in obvious danger, call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
