First seal pup arrival at Newburgh brings fresh reminder not to approach animals

The first seal pup of the season has been spotted at Forvie National Nature reserve and there is a fresh reminder not to approach the animals.

The popular destination in Newburgh has become a designated protected haul-out site for hundreds of Grey Seals on the mouth of the Ythan River.

November through to late December marks pupping season and the nature reserve is hoping to welcome more of the marine animals this year.

With numbers increasing, there could be up to 3,000 seals on the Newburgh shore by early March.

However, staff at the nature reserve are reminding people not to approach the seals as it can be dangerous for the animals and the public.

Manager at the nature reserve, Catriona Reid, said: "If you try to get close to the seals on the North side it's really bad news for the seals, they will all stampede into the water.

"If there's a young pup or even younger animals around, there's a real chance they will get crushed."

A bull seal can weigh around a quarter of a tonne and could cause death to a young seal pup if a stampede occurs.

Additionally, Catriona explained if the mum gets disturbed there is a chance she could abandon the pup if she doesn't believe the area is safe.

The nature reserve manager said unfortunately it is common for people to disturb the seals from the North side of the reserve, however the number of incidents has declined in recent years due to increased awareness.

Where is the best place to view the seals?

Catriona stressed the best place to view the seals is from the south side of the beach: "You will get a much better view from here than if you were to approach on the North side - you really don't want to do that.

"You will scare the seals, they are protected under law, it's just not a good idea to go anywhere near them on the North side."

Earlier this year, the Newburgh and Ythan Community Trust installed a wheelchair-accessible board walk stretching from the car park up to the viewpoint.

Hopes for a pupping site

Forvie National Nature Reserve welcomed a total of eight seal pups last year and is hoping it might become a pupping site in the future.

Catriona explained: "We are hoping numbers are going to start building up as a pupping site as other pupping sites around the coast become full of seals and they look for new places to breed."

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