Two – maybe three – newborn seals have been identified at The Children’s Pool Jan 31, with more on the way. Seal pupping season will last through May 15.
Two new seal pups have been spotted at The Children’s Pool Jan 31, marking the official first births since the beach was closed per annual regulation last month. There may be a third pup as well.
The new pups were sighted this morning, already swimming, nursing and resting on the beach with their mothers.
The two confirmed pups are named Aphid and Cricket, per Sierra Club Seal Society of San Diego’s tradition to name the pups each year following a theme.
The new La Jolla residents will spend approximately the next six weeks growing and learning self-sufficiency before their mothers release them to live independently.
These seal pups arrived a bit late, according to Seal Society representative Robyn Davidoff, who noted there are usually more births by this time in the season.
There are also fewer pregnant mothers on the beach this year than in previous years, Davidoff said, adding Seal Society docents keep careful track of population numbers.
The Children’s Pool Beach will remain closed through May 15 to give the rest of the pregnant seals time to prepare for giving birth and nursing their young.
This is different from the year-round closure of Point La Jolla further north to protect sea lions from human interaction; their pupping season is May through October.
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