This is the Children’s Pool in La Jolla beach. In the past the seals were protected by having the beach closed from December 15 through May 15. This August that permit will expire. The seasonal beach closure has reduced seal harassment during the pupping season while dramatically reducing police calls with no citations issued at all. The closure restored the calm needed for the seals to give birth and nurse their pups in a natural environment free of human harassment during this critical time, while maintaining the unique viewing experience that remains open for all locals and tourists alike to enjoy.The guideline rope has helped in preventing human harassment of the harbor seal colony during the non-pupping-season months.
Without the rope, people will get too close to the seals. They will scare them by trying to pet them, or trying to take selfies with them, surrounding the seals and blocking their escape route to the ocean.
When mother seals get scared they often abandon their pups who can die from following them into the waves which they aren’t strong enough to swim against yet, or starve to death from waiting on the beach for their mothers who will never return. The abandoned baby seals cannot be saved by rescuers, as that would lead to scaring even more mothers into abandoning even more pups.
Not lizards, but animal related. Please help protect them! I’ve sent my letter, and if you have a moment please consider helping them, it takes less than a minute!
