News

Seal Sighting in Ponte Vedra

Franchesca Swierz, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident, was strolling along the shore with a friend on Monday when something surprising grabbed her eye. A baby seal! 

The seal has enchanted numerous witnesses and lit up social media. However, authorities have said it is significant that individuals leave the seal, and any other seals that may or may not show up, alone. People took recordings of the seal snoozing, bobbing around and resting in what is known as a “yoga pose” and although specialists tried to keep human contact away, the seal did not seem at all bothered by the crowd. 

Biologists soon responded to the confusion about a non-native resident resting upon the Sunshine State shore. Harbor seals normally reside in Alaska, California, however have been occasionally spotted as far south as the Carolinas.  While seals are considered non-migratory creatures, their appearance in Florida was rare but not totally unusual. 

Learn more about seals by visiting the NOAA’s website!

 

 

https://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/2021/02/09/seal-spotted-along-north-florida-beaches/

https://www.fox13news.com/news/fwc-biologists-respond-after-rare-harbor-seal-spotted-on-florida-beach