Four harbor seal pups were released at Turn Point Beach this past Saturday by Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The pups had been either orphaned or separated from their mother, and were brought to Wolf Hollow for treatment and rehabilitation. Shona Aitken, education coordinator at Wolf Hollow, was present, answering questions of curious bystanders and making sure they didn’t get too close to the animals.

The pups Zircon, Sunstone, Mica and Cinnabar were brought in from Squalicum Harbor, Ferndale, Semiahmoo, and Doe Bay Resort, respectively, by Stranding Networks in the area.

The pups were dehydrated, weak and had wounds or infections after being separated from their mother. The pups were started out with electrolytes to rehydrate them, and then introduced to a special high-fat formula to help them regain weight. Once teeth were fully formed, they were introduced to fish. After becoming stronger and infection-free, they moved out into a small pool and then a deeper one. There, they learned how to chase fish and swim.

At the release, the pups were brought out to the beach in large carriers, each carried by four pole-bearers, with sheets over the containers to reduce stress of transportation. Once all four carriers were in position pointing to the water, the doors were opened and the pups scooted off. One made a beeline for the water, two went to explore it together, and the fourth tried it out, came back to shore, then decided to take the final plunge.

A group of people amassed at the beach to watch the little pups go on their way, and neighbors came out to watch as well.

The pups bobbed around in their new environs within sight for quite some time, occasionally looking at the bystanders on shore.

Wolf Hollow staff attached a numbered tag to their hind flippers and glued a light-weigh hat-tag to the fur on their heads to keep track of them.

To report stranded animals to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, call the hotline at 1-800-562-8832 or send an email to hotline@whalemuseum.org.