The Marine Mammal Center reminds coastal residents and visitors to “Leave Seals Be” and to call The Center’s 24-hour response hotline (listed below by region). The goal of the campaign is to discourage illegal pick-ups of newborn harbor seal pups on beaches that many members of the public mistakenly believe have been abandoned by their seal mothers. While the Center is able to rehabilitate orphaned and injured harbor seal pups, there is no substitute for the care and feeding these pups receive from their mothers as mother’s milk contains important antibodies that help build the young pup’s immune system. Therefore, well-meaning beachgoers who attempt to help these pups by taking them home, returning them to the water, covering them with a blanket, or approaching them too close, actually are doing more harm then good. Also, harbor seals, along with all marine mammals, are protected under The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 making it illegal and punishable by law to “take” marine mammals without a permit or to harm or harass them.
Here’s How You Can Help
If you see a seal in distress, call our rescue and response
Hotlines. After your call is placed, the Center will monitor the pup for 24-hours or more, depending on the situation, and if necessary trained volunteers and staff will rescue it safely. Also check out our What to do if you find a stranded marine mammal
Get involved and spread the word! Here are a few ways to get involved:
Harbor
seal pupping season
residents and visitors to “Leave Seals Be” and to call The Center’s 24-hour response hotline (listed below by region). The goal of the campaign is to discourage illegal pick-ups of newborn harbor seal pups on beaches that many members of the public mistakenly believe have been abandoned by their seal mothers. While the Center is able to rehabilitate orphaned and injured 
Therefore, well-meaning beachgoers who attempt to help these pups by taking them home, returning them to the water, covering them with a blanket, or approaching them too close, actually are doing more harm then good. Also, harbor seals, along with all marine mammals, are protected under 
