A kayaker got a little wetter than expected while out on a recent trip in Port Moody, when a playful harbour seal bumped the boat and sent it tipping into the water.
The harbour seal near the kayak. Photo: Screen grab Reddit user D-Ro
The man was kayaking at Rocky Point when two seals popped up to say hello, and he managed to capture the moment on video.
The short 27-second clip shows the seals looking rather curiously at the kayak鈥� One seal then jumps up for a closer look and knocks the kayak, causing it to tip over and send the man into the water.
Reddit user D-Ro posted the video to the 麻豆传媒映画sub-reddit on Wednesday, mistakenly calling the inquisitive creatures sea lions. 麻豆传媒映画 reached out to D-Ro about the encounter but he is yet to respond.
https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/cjz03m/port_moody_sea_lions_ididntfeedthebears/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
In posts to fellow Redditors he mentioned that he did not believe it was an attack.
鈥淚 saw\heard no other signs of aggression,鈥� he wrote on Reddit. 鈥淚 was more worried for them. I didn't want to put my paddle near them and look aggressive.鈥�
While it seems like a cute animal encounter and the kayaker wasn鈥檛 injured, wants to send a friendly reminder to water users to keep a safe distance away from marine wildlife.
V.I.A spoke to Emily Johnson, the centre鈥檚 assistant manager, who said if the animal becomes aware of your presence, you are too close.
鈥淚f people are observing animals, we recommend they stay back so they鈥檙e not interfering with what the animal is doing,鈥� she said.
鈥淔rom my perspective, if I had been on that kayak I would have moved away to discourage those animals from approaching. Their [kayaker] presence was obviously close enough that the animal knew they were there and came to investigate.鈥�
Johnson said harbour seals in particular give off warning signs to humans to let them know they feel they鈥檙e too close, including lifting their front flipper in a wave motion.
鈥淭hey will also slap their abdomen with their front flipper as an indication that you鈥檙e too close," Johnson said.
Plus, they also bite.聽 Johnson warned that seal bites could result in some pretty nasty infections.
鈥淗arbour seals have a wonderful set of teeth and they are wild animals, so they will use them when they feel threatened,鈥� Johnson said.
鈥淧eople need to be aware that they are taking risks by interacting with them. They do have the capability of doing quite a bit of damage.鈥�
Harbour seals generally like areas with log blooms, sandy beaches, rocky outcrops and shorelines and docks 鈥� anywhere they can haul-out on.
Johnston also wanted to make it clear that people should always call the first if they saw an animal they believed to be in harm or distress.
鈥淜eep a safe distance, don鈥檛 disturb the animal, quietly observe and call the centre," she said.
The rescue centre can be reached at 604-258-SEAL.
