PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Marine wildlife experts are asking people to stay away from seals they see on the beach at the Jersey Shore, for the safety of both animals and people.
It's not uncommon to see seals resting on the beach this time of year.
"Every year, they move south, they follow the fish south," said Bob Schoelkopf, director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
Schoelkopf said the seals are usually pups born in the North Atlantic and when they come to shore, it's often for much needed rest before getting back into the water. However, people have been disrupting them.
"Every time a person walks by to take a selfie, or talk to the seal or have their dog run up to it, that interferes with that cycle and the animal is not quite replenished," he warned.
He said the center has taken some seals in for extended periods of time to get them healthy enough to leave.
What's more, Schoelkopf says the seals aren't friendly. They bite hard with sharp teeth and carry lots of infections. It's best to admire them from a distance of at least 100 to 150 feet away.