About Seal Sitters
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network (“Seal Sitters”) is a 100% volunteer group dedicated to protecting marine mammals in West Seattle.
Seal Sitters is part of NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
Photo credits: Robin Lindsey
Why are we on the beach?
When a seal pup is onshore, people often think it must need help. But seal pups usually just need space to rest and warm up out of the cold Puget Sound. Human interference unfortunately can cause undue stress for weaned pups, and even lead to abandonment of newborns.
By establishing protected areas, Seal Sitters make sure that harbor seal pups get needed rest free of human intervention while hauled out on the busy shorelines of West Seattle.
Photo credit: David Hutchinson
Volunteers create a protective perimeter on Alki beach
Photo credit: Jeffrey Kurtz
What we do
Seal Sitters responds to reports of marine mammals, dead or alive, on West Seattle’s beaches, including the highly industrialized Duwamish Waterway and Harbor Island.
Our all-volunteer group works in different capacities to ensure a response to any marine animal that comes up on a local beach. We function as:
Hotline Operators, who answer calls, assess reports, and dispatch appropriate responses;
First Responders, who conduct initial assessments of the reported marine mammal, set up a safety perimeter if needed, and coordinate beach volunteer efforts with the Scheduler;
Schedulers, who help manage volunteer assignments and ensure coverage for animals on the beach; and
Beach Volunteers, who staff the perimeters to help monitor the animal's condition and behavior, and educate the public at the site about marine wildlife.
Our story:
the History of Seal Sitters
Seal Sitters was established in the summer of 2007 when co-founders Robin Lindsey and Brenda Peterson noticed that an unusual number of harbor seal pups were showing up on busy beaches in West Seattle.
Visit the BlubberBlog for an archive of “pupdates”, beach rescues and community engagement over many years of marine mammal protection work.
“I value that Seal Sitters helps other people share the joy of marine mammals in our area safely.”
From our volunteers:
Our Partners in the Community
Seal Sitters works closely with other members of NOAA’s stranding network, as well as local organizations and agencies.
One of our most important partnerships is with SR3 (SeaLife Response, Rehab, and Research) to safeguard marine mammals throughout the Puget Sound area.
While Seal Sitters focuses on protecting wildlife and public outreach on the beaches in West Seattle, SR3’s team of veterinarians provide health assessments, rehabilitation, and scientific research at their marine mammal hospital in Des Moines for animals found locally and beyond.
SR3 also supports Seal Sitters’ volunteer training and education efforts.
Seal Sitters and SR3 work together to rescue a seal pup on Alki Beach
Photo credits: Jeffrey Kurtz | SR3
Land acknowledgement
Seal Sitters acknowledges that we work on the unceded ancestral lands and waters of the Coast Salish peoples, particularly the Duwamish Tribe, the first people of Seattle. To learn more, visit the Duwamish Tribe’s website.
