Hang Ten

Several years ago, my friend's Pete and Ryan picked me up for a regular surf adventure. We paddled the channel at Morro Bay and walked the nearly half mile down the beach. Just north of the jetty, huddled near the rocks, a baby Harbor Seal lay almost invisible. It was alone, rather unusual for such an infant, and seemed disoriented and immobilized. After some discussion, we decided to take the Seal back to Morro Bay to get some help (I found out this is not the way to approach the situation; never touch or move a sea mammal, just contact the Marine Mammal Center).

We loaded the thirty pound baby onto my surfboard and carried it down the beach like a stretcher. Once we reached the channel, I had to swim across and push my board since it couldn't hold both the seal and I.We reached the base of Morro Rock, where we promptly contacted the Marine Mammal Center, who sent volunteers. They arrived rather quickly, determined the seal was sick, and loaded him into their truck.

Nearly a week later, I received a letter telling me that the Harbor Seal we had found had been dubbed "Hang Ten" due to his unique ride. They said he was only a few days old and had a severe case of otitis interna (inner ear infection), which was causing its disorientation. He was rehabilitated and released back into the wild after a couple weeks of care.

Harbor Seals, or Common Seals, have the largest range of the pinnipeds (seals, walruses, etc.), and can be found throughout the oceans of the Northern Hemisphere. Adults can reach lengths of six feet and weights of nearly 300 pounds. Female Harbor Seals give birth to solitary pups, which they care for alone. Baby Harbor Seals can swim within hours of birth and grow rather quickly.