Dead Seals On Beach

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by curly, Oct 12, 2019.

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  1. curly

    curly Noble Member

    Jul 3, 2016
    758
    443
    Burton Upon Trent
    Not bike related in any way, but today we went to Borth, where we have been visiting and holidaying for over 30 years.
    Washed upon the beach were 4 seals, I'm no authority on these marine animals, 3 were small and white in colour, 1 was huge in comparison and dark coloured, all were closely grouped together.
    All were in very early stages of decomposition and clearly had not been there too long.
    Never seen anything like this before here.
    I'm not really a softee, I think?
    This was quite upsetting though, I wonder what happened here?
    Sorry for the totally none bike related subject but It's got me intrigued.
     
  2. curly

    curly Noble Member

    Jul 3, 2016
    758
    443
    Burton Upon Trent
    No, no obvious trauma visible, oddly enough there was an Octopus, the size of a small fist alongside one of the youngsters, never seen anything like it before.
    Jelly fish are common but nothing like this.
     
  3. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
    2,035
    1,000
    High Wycombe
    I must admit I was expecting pictures of popped front suspension seals on a trail bike dribbling oil on the sand
    Unfortunately I was wrong

    In today's age of climate awareness and earth protection, my thoughts are plastic in their stomachs.
    But could be you'uns following their mum onto the beach after she had got injured or into trouble
     
  4. JerryBB

    JerryBB Noble Member

    Oct 6, 2019
    1,169
    443
    Wales
    It is seal pu season which are smaller and white, whilst the females are bigger and grey and tge males much bigger again. The young can have problems in bad weather, but this is an uncomen occurence I think, I have only seen one dead seal in ten years of walking the west wales coast path
     
  5. Biker Jock

    Biker Jock Senior Member

    Nov 16, 2014
    626
    243
    That's a strange one. Seals usually only have one pup to raise at a time, give birth on land and suckle the pup until its waterproof fur grows in. But it sounds like you've found 3 young pups and an adult.

    Grey seals start giving birth around this time of year (though it's maybe a bit early - late autumn/winter is normal). Perhaps recent very high tides have caught a few pups out and they have been drowned. And I suppose adults die too.

    Grey seals are big animals and have a distinct 'Roman' nose, while the common/harbour seal is smaller with a much cuter face.
     
  6. JerryBB

    JerryBB Noble Member

    Oct 6, 2019
    1,169
    443
    Wales

    the beach at borth is not one I would expect to seals pupping in, too open & exposed and shallow, they tend to pup in rocky coves, I assume all four animals have just washed up there and are not one family.
     
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  7. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Crème de la Crème

    Dec 12, 2015
    3,401
    1,000
    Barnsley
    We used to have a gaffer we nicknamed seal pup, not because he was cute with big brown eyes, but because we wanted to stove his head in with a baseball bat.
    Disclaimer. In no way do I condone such behaviour to helpless furry mammals.
     
  8. NightRider

    NightRider Member

    Aug 11, 2019
    47
    18
    Europe
    You're damn right, you'd better do that with other creatures! :skull:
     
  9. JerryBB

    JerryBB Noble Member

    Oct 6, 2019
    1,169
    443
    Wales
    On a cheerier note here are some live ones I saw the other week in Pembrokeshire

    IMG_20190925_185622.jpg
     
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