Badgers Rock Residents

[oldowan]

This was a week ago at sunup just SE of the toothpick.  Is this common this time of year?  Never seen them in Spring/Summer/Fall…

[Lakertaker]

They stack up in that area every winter, but there is a resident population all year. They have learned to follow sea duck hunters in that area and tend to grab down birds. Wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t experienced it during the 2021/2022 season. The same two seals would follow us to our hunting area or show up as we were throwing out decoys. Would lay in the mud and bask in sun until we shot at birds. As soon as they heard us shoot they would be in the water and on any down birds. Nothing would deter them and ended up not being able hunt that area for rest of season. 

[bob_G]

41 mins ago, Lakertaker said:

They stack up in that area every winter, but there is a resident population all year. They have learned to follow sea duck hunters in that area and tend to grab down birds. Wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t experienced it during the 2021/2022 season. The same two seals would follow us to our hunting area or show up as we were throwing out decoys. Would lay in the mud and bask in sun until we shot at birds. As soon as they heard us shoot they would be in the water and on any down birds. Nothing would deter them and ended up not being able hunt that area for rest of season. 

Always wondered if seals ate sea ducks, looks like I got my answer. Who knew.

[mikez2]

I remember harbor seals always being there in the winter and early spring long ago. I can't tell if those are harbors or grays.

 

Pretty interesting to hear about them taking ducks. I never heard of that before. I'm guessing those are the big grays? Those things are scary smart. So bizarre when one pops up close to you and looks you right in the eye. They look so intelligent. 

[oldowan]

They were pretty big.  The water was full of them, too…

[Jeff270]

I wonder how they would react to a lab going out to retrieve the duck they want for dinner.......

[chisler]

The lab would possibly be in for a real bad day

[chisler]

The good thing about these seals is; they stay pretty much in the mouth.  You don't see them cruising the beaches in the fall at all. So.. they aren't really any trouble.

[gray gables]

1 hour ago, chisler said:

The lab would possibly be in for a real bad day

You can bet your but that if a seal attacked someone’s water dog that seal is gonna be shot. I don’t care the consequences but no way would I allow that. 

[oldowan]

2 hours ago, chisler said:

The good thing about these seals is; they stay pretty much in the mouth.  You don't see them cruising the beaches in the fall at all. So.. they aren't really any trouble.

When do they leave the mouth?  Do they impact spring striped fishing?

[chisler]

As said earlier, some don't leave. Always there.   

I have little trouble fishing around badgers in the spring.  So there seem to be fewer seals then.   In the fall, the numbers increase and fishing badgers can be a challenge, at times the fishing is just shut down.  And when it is shut down, it seems the common theme is the seals are around moving about pretty heavily .

Edited February 7 by chisler

[oldowan]

1 hour ago, chisler said:

As said earlier, some don't leave. Always there.   

I have little trouble fishing around badgers in the spring.  So there seem to be fewer seals then.   In the fall, the numbers increase and fishing badgers can be a challenge, at times the fishing is just shut down.  And when it is shut down, it seems the common theme is the seals are around moving about pretty heavily .

Embarrassed to say—not sure what a ‘badger’ is…

 

Do the seals directly interfere with catches, or do the just impact the population?

[oldowan]

Also, they pose any risk to guys in waders?

As I said, they’re pretty damn big…

[Jeff270]

4 hours ago, gray gables said:

You can bet your but that if a seal attacked someone’s water dog that seal is gonna be shot. I don’t care the consequences but no way would I allow that. 

You and me both.  All bets are off in that scenario.  The boys are part of the family.

[chisler]

8 hours ago, oldowan said:

Also, they pose any risk to guys in waders?

As I said, they’re pretty damn big…

I don't think anyone worries about these seals injuring them.  These seals have a very different behavior than those of lets say, Cape Cod.  Where the seals around the Cape key in on you fishing the beach will follow you while looking for a meal.  This is not the case where you're talking about; they do their thing as nature allows without our influence. When fishing that is.

Edited February 8 by chisler