It’s important to keep pets away from marine mammals, for their safety and yours.

Pets should always be leashed when wild animals are near to prevent injury and the spread of disease. Pets off-leash can bite seal and sea lion pups, causing injury and spreading disease. Adult seals and sea lions are large, strong predators that can exhibit aggressive behaviors if provoked. These are wild animals that can injure or spread disease to pets and humans. It is safest for all concerned to have pets leashed when marine mammals are present on the beach.

When viewing wildlife at sea, vessels should maintain appropriate distance from any marine animal and observe appropriate speed limits. Whales are the largest animals on Earth, and they are known to breach out of the water. In some cases, they have landed on boats and kayaks, causing vessel damage and human injury.