A watchful volunteer mans a stretch of beach near Queens鈥� Park in Oak Bay, where fisheries officials hope a young elephant seal will just stay put.
If he doesn鈥檛 act up or 鈥済o rogue鈥� like he did on Sunday, April 28, Emerson can stay and finish his moult there, says Paul Cottrell, marine mammal coordinator with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Cottrell and Emerson go way back. Far further than his stay in Greater Victoria waters. Last year, this time of year, Emerson finished his 鈥渃atastrophic moult鈥� not far from where he snoozed on Monday.
鈥淲here he is currently is not the ideal spot because it鈥檚 so busy,鈥� Cottrell told the Oak Bay 亚洲天堂. 鈥淭he public is amazing they all love Emerson and they鈥檙e keeping their distance and being respectful.鈥�
The roster of volunteers take turns offering information to passersby and keeping an eye that Emerson doesn鈥檛 wander into the street, as he did the day before. Beach Drive was closed for several hours before Oak Bay police 鈥� much like their peers at Saanich police a couple weeks earlier 鈥� helped DFO steer young Emerson back into the water Sunday.
鈥淲e may have to relocate him if he does that again. We鈥檇 prefer not to have to move him but for his safety and the safety of the public. He鈥檚 not a small animal, he鈥檚 likely 500 pounds or so. He鈥檚 very friendly for the most part but dogs and small children, if he鈥檚 startled, and of course cars, it鈥檚 not a good mix,鈥� Cottrell said.
鈥淚f he behaves we can let him finish his moult here. But I鈥檓 not sure that鈥檚 going to happen.鈥�
The foray into the street and subsequent return to the water, did give Cottrell a chance to check out Emerson鈥檚 skin. He figures the young seal is halfway through his moult 鈥� where their fur and top layer of skin comes off in large patches 鈥� with at least two weeks left.
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A regular to the region, Emerson emerged at the Gorge Waterway in March. There he played in traffic too frequently and DFO relocated him to Barclay Sound. Within days, he reappeared in Greater Victoria, and has been beach-hopping since.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been all over different beaches in Oak Bay and Victoria the past week and a half, two weeks. It鈥檚 kind of like, it鈥檚 not Where鈥檚 Waldo it鈥檚 Where鈥檚 Emerson. So that鈥檚 been a challenge,鈥� said Cottrell. 鈥淥f course we鈥檙e following him with the volunteers, the caution tape to protect him and the public, but it is a challenge. We鈥檙e hoping that he stays put here. He looks happy but we鈥檒l see. And again if he does get into trouble in terms of in a high traffic area, high people area, where he鈥檚 in the neighbourhood we鈥檙e going to relocate him if that happens again.鈥�
It鈥檚 happened before where a harbour seal was struck by a car and killed.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want that for Emerson and we don鈥檛 want that for people driving,鈥� Cottrell said.
While Emerson seems to seek out a crowd, this is the season of the elephant seal moult, and any could appear on beaches in the region.
Anyone who sees an animal being harassed or injured, or an injured or sick animal exhibiting unusual behaviour is asked to call the DFO 24-hour hotline at
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