Sandy the Seal Pup Dies Tangled in Fishing Line Off Edmonds Fishing Pier

A seal pup that gained local attention last summer when rescued in West Seattle has died in Edmonds.

The Seattle Times reported the story today, and the Seal Sitters Web site has several stories and photos documented what happened.

A diver found Sandy tangled in a fishing line on April 1 off the Edmonds Fishing Pier.

"When the diver found the dead seal, he cut off the satellite tag and called us," said Susan Morrow, a beach ranger with the City of Edmonds’ Discovery Programs. Morrow founded the Edmonds Seal Sitters. "We in turn contacted NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and turned it over to them. Of course, it's a sad outcome, though some some scientific data was accumulated."

It was back in January that Sandy, who was nursed back to health at PAWS, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society’s Wildlife Center in Lynnwood, was rereleased back into Puget Sound.

Edmonds Seal Sitters is a volunteer group established in 2008 to tend to marine mammals on Edmonds beaches. Most are baby harbor seals like Sandy, which are called "pups."

that beachgoers should not touch, feed, move, pet or otherwise disturb marine mammals.

“It is absolutely normal behavior for seals to come ashore every day to rest and warm up,” she said. “Young seal pups will stay with their mothers for four to six weeks nursing with very rich mother's milk, but then the pups are weaned and must fend for themselves. The young seals need their time ashore to rest, and if they are bothered by humans—and dogs—it can be harmful to them. The younger animals will often rest on a public beach because they haven't learned to be wary of humans yet. We seldom get adult seals resting on the Edmonds waterfront.”

Those who find a seal pup on the Edmonds waterfront should call the Edmonds Seal Sitters hot line at 425-326-3336.