Seal on a Cornwall beach? Polzeath rangers explain what to do

You spot it from a distance first, a grey shape on the sand that shouldn’t be there. Your dog is already straining at the lead. Before you get any closer to a seal on a Cornish beach, it’s worth knowing that the animal in front of you might not need rescuing at all, and that getting too close is one of the easiest ways to make things worse.

A dead pup on the sand at Polzeath

Polzeath Beach Ranger Service shared the news that a dead seal pup had washed up on the beach. It wasn’t a pleasant find, and the rangers used the post to share some more welcome recent photos of seals on Polzeath beach instead, and to pass on some straightforward advice for anyone who comes across a seal, dead or alive, on the sand.

Seals can wash ashore after storms and rough seas, and Cornwall’s coastline sees its share of both. But the rangers were keen to stress that a dead animal is only part of the picture. A live seal lying on a beach is not automatically a seal in distress, and treating every sighting as an emergency, or worse, an invitation to get closer, can do real harm to the county’s marine wildlife.

📷Credit: Polzeath Beach Ranger Service

Why a seal on the beach isn’t always in trouble

Seals haul out onto beaches deliberately. It is a normal part of their behaviour, not a sign that something has gone wrong. After time spent swimming and feeding, they come ashore to rest and recover, and a seal that looks like it is simply lying still, doing nothing, is very often doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing.

That is precisely why the instinct to intervene, to nudge it back towards the water or usher it away from people, tends to cause more harm than good. A seal disturbed mid-rest may use up energy it cannot spare, or be pushed back into water before it is ready.

What to do if you find one

The rangers set out a short list of dos and don’ts for anyone who comes across a seal on a Cornish beach.

• Keep well away, and never attempt to touch, move or return the animal to the sea.
• Keep dogs on a lead and well away from the seal.
• Observe from a safe distance and avoid causing unnecessary disturbance.
• Use What3Words to give an accurate location if you need to call for help.
• Call the experts and let them assess the situation, rather than deciding for yourself.

📷Credit: Polzeath Beach Ranger Service

Who to call, live seal or dead

Which number to ring depends on what’s in front of you. For a live seal that looks unwell, injured or in genuine difficulty, the rangers point people towards British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) on 01825 765546. For a dead seal, the call goes instead to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Strandings Network on 0345 201 2626, who record and monitor strandings around the county’s coast.

The rangers were also blunt about a point that gets overlooked. Seals are wild animals, and they can bite, even when they look weak, sleepy or friendly enough to approach. Giving them space isn’t just good manners towards wildlife, it’s one of the most important things a beachgoer can do to stay safe.

“A huge thank you to the dedicated volunteers and wildlife organisations who respond to these incidents and work tirelessly to protect Cornwall’s marine wildlife,” the Polzeath Beach Ranger Service said, closing its post with the line that sums the whole thing up: see a seal, give it space, keep your dog away, and call the experts.

📷Credit: Polzeath Beach Ranger Service