Seal pups spotted at nature reserve for 12th year

Image source, Cumbria Wildlife TrustImage caption,

Two seal pups have been spotted at South Walney Nature Reserve near Barrow

ByHannah MitchellNorth East and Cumbria

Seal pups have been recorded at a nature reserve for the 12th year running.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust confirmed two pups had been spotted at South Walney Nature Reserve near Barrow, Cumbria.

The reserve is home to the county's only breeding grey seal colony and major haul-out site, a spot where seals come to shore for rest.

A record number of 14 seal pups were counted at the nature reserve last year, with the trust saying it hoped there would be "many more to come".

The pups were the first two healthy ones spotted at the nature reserve this season during a routine seal count.

Two were seen earlier in the summer but did not survive, the trust said.

Marine conservation officer Beth Churn said: "This is always an exciting time of year for us, and we hope that there'll be many more to come.

"We regularly reach double figures of pups, a trend that's been improving each year, so let's hope this season is a successful one for the colony."

Image source, Cumbria Wildlife TrustImage caption,

Cumbria Wildlife Trust is asking people to take care not to disturb the seal colony

The highest number of grey seals recorded to date at South Walney Nature Reserve was 563 in December 2024.

The previous highest seal counts were 518 in 2021, 483 in 2019 and 360 in 2018, showing an upward trend year on year.

Grey seals started breeding at South Walney in 2015 and pups have been recorded every year since.

"It's the result of concerted and ongoing efforts to keep disturbance of the seal colony to a minimum," Churn said.

"We work hard to make the beach safe and secure for the seals, so that they feel able to return here to breed."

There is no public access to the haul-out site at South Walney but three hides around the site let people see the seals from a safe distance.

A new hide at Groyne is currently being built and will include a telescope.

The trust is asking people to take care not to disturb the seal colony and maintain at least 100m (328ft) distance at all times.

"You can get good views of the seals with binoculars from a safe distance, so there's no need to get too close," Churn said.

"You'll know if you're too close because the seals will start to look at you and move nervously.

"If this happens, you should immediately start backing away quietly to avoid further disturbance."

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