Officials: Keep your distance from seal pups, no matter how adorable

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- New harbor seal pups are starting to arrive on the Oregon Coast for the spring and summer seasons. But despite the cuteness overload, officials say to keep your distance.

Seal pups are typically born during the spring to late summer in Oregon and Washington, which means beachgoers will soon start to see the fluffy pups pop up.

According to the Bureau of Land Management, while seal pups are sometimes stranded and in need of care, beached pups are usually resting while their mother is swimming and feeding offshore.

BLM encourages beachgoers to stay at least 50 yards away from a beached pup and use binoculars or a spotting scope for a better view. This is primarily because the mother seal may not return if humans (or dogs) are too close.

However, if beachgoers have concerns about a possible seal stranding, they can call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network hotline: (866) 767-6114. The Marine Mammal Stranding Network also responds to calls for other injured or dead marine mammals, including whales and dolphins.

Marine mammals like harbor seals are protected under federal law. It is illegal to move, touch, harass, feed, or kill any marine mammals.