50 Things to Do Before Memorial Day: Go Seal Spotting
There are just 34 days until Memorial Day weekend, and while we at Dan’s Papers can’t wait, we also know there are many things we have to squeeze in during the next few weeks on the East End, lest we lose our chance with all that summer brings. We know that if we don’t get out and do these now, we’ll have to wait until after Labor Day before we try again…and so will you!
We continue our countdown of things to do before Memorial Day weekend on the East End with #34: Go Seal Spotting
Grey seals and harbor seals are regular visitors to the Hamptons this time of year, and occasionally harp seals and others are spotted as well. But no matter which exact species of “merdog” they are, they’re all cute animals that are fun to observe. They like to sun themselves on Hamptons beaches and jetties and have a few favorite hang outs, such as out in Montauk or at Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton. Nature lovers organize “seals hikes” in the late winter and the spring to spot seals lounging.
Many times, seals that are just resting at the beach alarm beachgoers, who assume the seals must be in distress. Some have even tried to push the seals back into the water. This is ill-advised, as it can hurt both human and seal. The best thing to do is call the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation hotline at 631-369-9829. Marine biologists keep records of seals movements for research purposes. And if a seal is actually in distress, it will be transported to the foundation’s facility for rehabilitation.
If you have no luck spotting a seal by chance, attend one of the Riverhead Foundation’s seal releases–usually at the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bay–when a rehabbed seal is let back into the wild. Visit riverheadfoundation.org for more information on these public events.
Come back tomorrow for 50 Things to Do Before Memorial Day in the Hamptons #33.
Vetted Hamptons Resources
