A baby seal believed to have been abandoned by its mother is recovering at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre thanks to efforts of a concerned citizen and some Coquitlam Mounties.
The seal pup was picked up off the shore of Belcarra Wednesday by members of the Coquitlam RCMP's rural section and taken by boat to the rescue centre, according to RCMP Cpl. Mike McLaughlin.
"We were called by a citizen who had already touched it, we pretty much had to step in," said McLaughlin.
"You've got to be really careful of seal pups. Once you touch them, the mothers will abandon them," he explained, noting that the smell of humans is enough to keep the female away.
"If you see a seal pup, don't assume it's been abandoned," he said.
Instead, stay away from the animal and ensure others do so too; it's likely the mother will return after foraging for food.
The seal pup was named Fort St. James, after a town in B.C., and is reportedly recovering from head trauma.
More information about the seal and the marine mammal rescue centre can be found at vanaqua.org.
