$60
Raised of $500
ABOUT SEAL SITTERS
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network (SSMMSN) is an all-volunteer group dedicated to the protection of marine mammals and inspires stewardship of our fragile marine ecosystem.
SSMMSN responds to reports of all species of marine mammals, dead or alive, along West Seattle's coastline, including that of the highly industrialized and toxic Duwamish Waterway and Harbor Island. The group provides health and mortalities data to government agencies and biologists who monitor seal populations and emerging disease.
Seal Sitters First Responders average 200+ responses annually to marine mammals. Of those responses, 90% are to harbor seal pups trying to warm up on crowded beaches.
With a binding NOAAagreement as part of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, thousands of hours are donated annually by Seal Sitters volunteers to keep marine life safe and educate the public. Seal Sitters has created a unique opportunity for protection, conservation, education and research.
Seal Sitters works closely with other members of NOAA's stranding network.
WEST SEATTLE - SEAL CITY
In the summer of 2007, an unusual urban phenomenon occurred: harbor seal pups began showing up in numbers on the busy beaches of West Seattle after striking out on their own from Puget Sound rookeries. The first tiny pup arrived on a hot mid-August day on popular Alki Beach and was quickly surrounded by a crowd of curious and concerned beach-goers.
That pup, nicknamed Spud, was the impetus for the creation of the then grass-roots group, Seal Sitters, whose volunteers protected many vulnerable seal pups throughout that fall and winter. Every year since, West Seattle has been a hotspot for seal pup activity. Thanks to our volunteers, seal pups are able to snooze undisturbed in the sun (or rain) for many hours before returning to forage in the cold waters of Puget Sound.
