A juvenile elephant seal has picked the beach at Ambleside Park as the location of his annual beauty regimen.
The approximately 300-pound mammal appeared on May 1 for his catastrophic moult a process in which hell shed all of his fur and some of his skin.
Elephant seals normally live farther north, though they are not unheard of in Burrard Inlet.
While sore, and cranky, the seal isnt injured as he might appear. The natural process can take some time, so he may remain on the beach for several weeks, a press release from the District of West Vancouver states.
But curious residents are asked to keep their distance as his species is known for being aggressive and the moulting process may make him more aggressive than usual.
Please observe the barricaded area and keep dogs well away for their own safety. The seal may look slow and harmless, but it is capable of moving very quickly and can be dangerous if it feels threatened, the press release stated.
-Brent Richter
