Seal season is underway, and DOC Tauranga has a set of community stalwarts prepped to check on kekeno / NZ fur seals in distress.
Each year between May and September, young seals and males leave their breeding colonies to explore and rest, occasionally surprising humans by turning up in some very unexpected places.
DOC Biodiversity Ranger Sarah-Lyn Wilson says the seals are generally perfectly fine doing their own thing.
"So long as we give them plenty of space, and keep our dogs on a lead, they'll eventually find their way back to the ocean. But if they are in danger or severely injured, that's when to call DOC."
Trained volunteers in distinctive high visibility vests may be the first responders to a seal in distress in the Tauranga area.
Leigh Pettigrew has been volunteering in the Tauranga area for around 20 years, and says a lot of calls DOC receives about seals are "red herrings".
"You turn up and it's not injured at all, just floated over on its back while playing. Or it's coughing or sneezing, completely normal behaviour.
"But sometimes the seal will be in dire straits, and if we can do something to help, well that makes it worth giving up your spare time."
Around 15 volunteers have been, or are being, upskilled and provided with resources to assess seal health and escalate where appropriate.
Sarah-Lyn says the volunteers will support the community to understand and act appropriately around seals.
"Our trained community volunteers will support us in triaging our response, so our staff can respond to the urgent cases where a seal is on a road, severely injured, or tangled in debris," says Sarah-Lyn.
"If it's not urgent, these volunteers have been empowered to provide assurance and education to the community about seals and their behaviour."
Leigh says if he had a message for the public after his years as a volunteer, it would be to keep a respectful distance from seals.
"Keep your distance, your dogs on a lead, kids safe, and don't get between a seal and the water. That's how to keep yourself and the seal safe," says Leigh.
If you're out naturing and see a seal that is severely injured, being harassed, or in danger, please call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
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