Aggressive seal in Plymouth Sound.

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doug748

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Those who have anchored in Cawsand Bay will know these is a thriving community of all year, all weather swimmers there. Social media is saying one had to be rescued today after being dragged under by a seal, this is apparently the third attack of the type and several others have been bitten.

So watch out.

The story goes that the seal was brought to the area by the RSPCA after causing similar problems in Ilfracombe. If this is the case (given all the deserted beaches in Cornwall) it is not looking like a stroke of genius.


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Good to know.

Have heard of seals occasionally pulling folk under water by biting their fins and pulling thwm down. But never actually met someone who it had happened to.
 
Lots of places to swim in Plymouth. I can't think why anybody would get in the water with seals about, especially as this is the time of year they give birth.
 
A warning - seal bites were regarded by the BAS doctors as being the most difficult to treat injury they encountered. They have a set of teeth that would put a wolf to shame, and their mouths harbour a wild variety of nasty, infectious bugs. So, even a relatively minor bite could be infected and the infection very difficult to clear.
 
Barnacle Bill said:
Easy to forget they're very large wild carnivores, especially when they are being friendly and playful.View attachment 125901View attachment 125902
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In general, we're above the target size of their prey, so they're unlikely to see us as prey. But they will attack if they feel threatened, and of course, males are protective of their harems and females of their pups. Fortunately, the grey seals we encounter are not usually particularly aggressive. But I walked very wide round fur seals in Antarctica; those who had to deal with them usually carried a big stick! Fur seals are naturally pretty aggressive.
 
i swam across the narrow entrance of L Eyenort in S Uist a few years ago. there was about 30 seals in residence. the bull seal repeatedly splashed loudly about 4-5m behind me. i did the same back. never saw them underwater, but they put the wind up me.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
A warning - seal bites were regarded by the BAS doctors as being the most difficult to treat injury they encountered. They have a set of teeth that would put a wolf to shame, and their mouths harbour a wild variety of nasty, infectious bugs. So, even a relatively minor bite could be infected and the infection very difficult to clear.
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Yes, apparently several people have been treated.

A local newspaper confirms that the RSPCA launched it into the sea near Cawsand and Kingsand.

Had I had been bitten, I would be asking serious questions about who thought it was a good idea to place the problem animal into an area that attracts dozens of swimmers daily, throughout the year. Cornwall is not short of quiet/empty coves and beaches.

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johnalison said:
Seals are top predators around our coasts and we shouldn’t be surprised if they are equipped to attack us. Just because their pups look cuddly, people get all sentimental about them and think they are like their pet dogs. I love seeing our local seals but I don’t mistake them for friends.
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Try the Galápagos Islands. Flippin things are very big, smelly, no fear and are everywhere. If you have a sugar scoop transom, they will get on it. Everyone uses water taxis coz if you put an inflatable tender on the beach they will get in it and burst it.
At the water taxi landing, they get on the steps and lay in the way. Also on the pier up to the road, including laying on the benches provided for humans. And crap absolutely everywhere. They aren't aggressive, simply lazy. And very fat.
 
I’ve been followed as I rowed down the Deben from Waldringfield to The Rocks with my family in the dinghy by a large and apparently curious grey seal. He stayed within the boat’s length of the transom for a couple of miles, by which time we were starting to feel a little uneasy.
 
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