05/22/2020 Safe-At-Home (59) Monk Seal Dailies

Aloha Good People, I hope you are all well and staying safe.

Today was an interesting day, in that for the first time in a very long time NOAA reached out to the public to ask for help and watching over newly weaned PO2 Nohea.  Seems her location is of concern, especially with things opening up and a holiday weekend. 
Here is the official link from NOAA, that aired on the news last evening and in today's newspaper.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/newly-weaned-seal-pup-needs-community-help-grow-safe-and-wild?fbclid=IwAR2ssMsDBTKnfUvl9uSWrBrCgNSOEV5cUVl95_lStJ8J1AjBarhUOfZw0Yc

This location is known to surfers, party folks, dog walkers and most scary off road vehicles.  I do know there are volunteers checking in and plenty of posse doing their best to check in at the site.
Today Team Billand made there way over for a visit and as you can see there is the real concern and I am sure for them a heart stopper.

I would like to say in this situations calling on the community is really big, it provides that many more eyes and turns folks into monk seal fans. After all who can resist a chubby weaner playing on the beach. 
At the same time there is an opportunity to reach out to other organizations or old time volunteers in the area for some additional help if they are short handed. After all in the end what is important is the well being and protection of the seals.

Team Billand had no luck on the west side so they headed over to check on PO2. When they arrived HPD and volunteer were around two trucks on the beach one was stuck for four hours.  
Nohea was in the water swimming playing with sea cucumbers. 
She tried to go around the rocks but the waves and current were strong and she ended up hauling up in the actual tracks left by the trucks. This makes her so vulnerable to any vehicle that comes up on the beach. She spent most the time sleeping on the sand in peace. 

It's certainly going to be an interesting weekend... just keep her in your thoughts that she stay safe.

stuck in the sand

 Little weaner checking out the action

Snoozing in the tire track

 who can resist that face!