Breeding Season
Learn about seals' lives - what happens in a seal mother and her pup’s life, and once weaned, the next stage of a pup's life and how to help protect them better.
🐾 Grey Seal Breeding Season: Why Disturbance Is So Dangerous
🗓 When is Breeding Season?
Seal breeding season in Pembrokeshire runs from mid-August to mid-November, though some pups are born slightly earlier or later. This short, intense period is critical to the survival of grey seal pups.
👶 The First Few Weeks of a Seal Pup’s Life
Seal mothers (cows) come ashore to give birth and care for their pups for around three weeks, feeding them with nutrient-rich milk until they’ve at least tripled their birth weight from 14kg to 42kg.
Cows live off their fat reserves during this time and stay close to their pups, either on land or in shallow waters.
They guide pups to and from the sea for short, supervised swims once the pup is strong enough.
Maternal bonding is vital, and any disruption during this time can have serious consequences.
By the time a pup is weaned, the mother may have lost up to a third of her body weight and must leave to recover.
🦭 What Happens When People Disturb Seals?
Human disturbance—whether from walking too close, bringing dogs, or entering seal habitats—can be deadly.
❗ Disturbance causes:
Missed feeds that reduce a pup’s chance of survival
Stress and panic in mothers and pups
Abandonment of pups
Habitat insecurity and long-term site damage
Even being visible, talking, or allowing dogs to bark within scent or hearing distance can cause a mother to flee or avoid returning to her pup.
🚫 Never Enter a Seal Breeding Cove
Approaching seals on beaches, rocks, or caves during breeding season is deliberate disturbance—and it has serious consequences:
Pups may be separated from their mothers
Mothers may stop feeding or abandon pups entirely
Pups can become underweight, weak, and vulnerable to illness or death
Site disturbance can impact seal colonies for years to come
🐕 Keep Dogs Away—Always
Never bring dogs near seals or seal pups
Keep dogs on leads and under control at all times
Do not allow barking, chasing, or approaching
Avoid seal beaches entirely if walking your dog
🔍 How to Recognise and Prevent Disturbance
Even unintentional actions can harm seals. Know the signs of disturbance:
⚠️ Early Warning Signs (Phase 1)
A seal lifts its head and looks towards you
It appears alert, wary, or restless
➡️ Back away slowly. Stay low. Stay out of sight. Leave the area quietly.
⚠️ Escalating Disturbance (Phase 2)
A mother seal moves closer to her pup or towards the sea
The pup is led away prematurely
Feeding is interrupted
➡️ Leave the site immediately. Do not return.
⚠️ Severe Disturbance (Phase 3)
The pup is pulled into the water too soon
Feeding lasts only seconds instead of minutes
The mother is clearly agitated and scanning for threats
➡️ Move away quietly and do not stay to watch. You’ve already been seen.
🚨 Stampede (Phase 4)
Multiple seals flee into the water in panic
Seals call out in distress or disappear into the sea
➡️ This is a major disturbance. Move out of the area without delay.
🐣 The Pup’s Journey After Weaning
After weaning:
Pups moult their white coat over 7 days, spending most of the time ashore
They rely on fat reserves and need time to rest
They may explore the sea briefly but must return to land frequently
Disturbance during this phase can still harm their development
If pups are prevented from coming ashore, they become cold, weak, and vulnerable. Every chance to rest matters.
🌊 What Happens During Storms or High Tides?
Autumn storms and spring tides often separate mothers from pups.
Pups may be washed ashore on accessible beaches
Some may be abandoned or injured
Others may survive but end up weak and exposed
⚠️ Never approach a pup on a beach. Never try to put it back in the sea.
If you find a pup:
Keep your distance
Keep dogs away
Contact a local wildlife rescue or seal organisation immediately
🛑 Summary: How You Can Help
✅ DO:
Stay at least 150m away from seals
Watch from a distance with binoculars
Stay quiet, low, and out of sight
Keep dogs on leads and away from seals
Avoid breeding coves entirely during the season
Report injured or abandoned pups to professionals
🚫 DON’T:
Enter seal habitats or breeding coves
Stand on cliff edges where seals can see you
Share exact seal locations online
Let dogs bark, roam, or approach seals
Stay to “watch what happens” during a disturbance
💙 Give Seals Space to Survive
One moment of human disturbance can cost a pup its life.
One act of awareness can help that pup survive into adulthood.
Be informed. Be respectful. Be a Seal Protector.
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Seal Breeding Season: Why It Matters and How You Can Help
🗓 When Is Breeding Season?
Grey seal breeding season runs from mid-August to mid-November, but pups can be born slightly earlier or later. This short window is absolutely critical to the survival of grey seal pups born on our shores.
👶 Why the First Weeks Are So Important
After giving birth on shore, seal mothers (called cows) stay with their pups for around three weeks, feeding them rich milk and helping them grow strong.
Pups are born weighing about 14kg and must triple their weight before weaning to stand a good chance of survival.
The mother lives off her fat reserves and stays close—resting with her pup, feeding, and guiding it into shallow water for short swims as it grows stronger.
Any disruption during this time can be devastating.
🚨 How Human Disturbance Puts Pups at Risk
Even quiet, well-meaning people or dogs nearby can cause major stress.
Disturbance can lead to:
Missed feeds
Separation of mother and pup
Pup abandonment
Underweight, vulnerable pups
Breeding site instability
Mothers may not return to feed if they see, smell, or hear people—or dogs—nearby. Every missed feed matters.
🐕 A Special Note About Dogs
Never allow a dog near a seal or pup
Keep dogs on a short lead and silent
Avoid beaches and coves with seals altogether during breeding season
Even barking or sniffing nearby is a major threat
🧭 How to Watch Seals Without Causing Harm
If you’re observing from cliffs or other high points:
Bring binoculars
Stay at least 150 metres away
Stay low, don’t stand upright or loom over the edge
Be quiet and avoid sudden movements
Keep dogs out of sight and downwind
⚠️ Recognising and Preventing Disturbance
Even if you don’t touch a seal, you can still cause harm. Here’s how seals react:
Phase 1: Early Warning
The seal lifts its head and looks toward you
It seems alert or on edge
What to do: Stop. Stay low. Back away quietly and leave the area.
Phase 2: Escalating Distress
A mother moves her pup or leads it into the sea
Feeding is cut short
What to do: Move away immediately. Do not return to that area.
Phase 3: Severe Impact
Feeding stops after only seconds
The mother leads her pup away from land despite poor conditions
The pup is too young to be in the water but is forced in by the disturbance
What to do: Leave and stay away. The mother may now shorten future feeds out of anxiety, endangering her pup.
Phase 4: Stampede
Seals flee en masse into the sea
Panic vocalisations are heard
Pups may be trampled, injured, or left behind
What to do: Leave immediately. Do not linger to watch. Your presence caused extreme fear.
🌊 The Danger of Storms and Spring Tides
High tides and storms often wash pups from coves. Mothers try to help, but in rough seas they may be separated permanently.
Washed-up pups are cold, hungry, and highly vulnerable—especially if:
They can’t return to a safe cove
People or dogs prevent the mother from reuniting or feeding them
They are forced back into the sea before they are ready
❄️ Moulting and the Weeks After Weaning
After weaning:
Pups moult their white coat over about a week
They must rest on land to conserve energy
They still need to come ashore regularly for 3–4 more weeks
During this time, disturbance is still dangerous. If pups can’t rest or return to land, they become cold, exhausted, and more likely to die.
🆘 If You See a Pup on a Beach
DO NOT approach
DO NOT put the pup back in the sea
DO NOT touch or photograph closely
Keep dogs well away
Contact a local wildlife organisation for advice
💙 The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do
Give seals space.
Respect their breeding grounds.
Help others do the same.
Small changes in your behaviour can make the difference between life and death for a seal pup.
✅ Quick Recap: Do’s & Don’ts
| ✅ Do | ❌ Don’t |
|---|---|
| Watch from 150m+ with binoculars | Go onto seal beaches or coves |
| Stay low and quiet | Let dogs off-lead near seals |
| Back away if spotted | Shout, point, or wave |
| Keep dogs downwind and hidden | Try to “rescue” pups by putting them in the sea |
| Avoid known breeding sites | Post seal locations online |
📸 Still Want to See Seals?
You can! From a respectful distance. Use binoculars or long lenses.
Watch natural behaviours unfold—without causing harm.
Seal watching done right is powerful, peaceful, and unforgettable.