Grey Seal Pups Recorded at Cumbria Nature Reserve for 12th Consecutive Year
Cumbria Wildlife Trust confirmed the arrival of two healthy grey seal pups at South Walney Nature Reserve, continuing a breeding streak that began in 2015.
At a glance
- Cumbria Wildlife Trust confirmed two healthy grey seal pups at South Walney Nature Reserve.
- The births mark the 12th consecutive year of grey seal breeding at the Cumbria reserve since 2015.
- A record 563 grey seals were recorded at the site in December 2024, reflecting long-term population growth.
Conservationists have confirmed the birth of two healthy grey seal pups at South Walney Nature Reserve near Barrow, marking the 12th consecutive year of breeding at the site.
The Cumbria Wildlife Trust verified the sightings during a routine seal count. The reserve hosts Cumbria's only breeding grey seal colony as well as a major haul-out site, where marine mammals come ashore to rest. The two newborn seals are the first healthy pups to be documented at the reserve this season, following an earlier sighting of two pups during the summer that did not survive.
Grey seals first began breeding at South Walney in 2015, and the reserve has logged successful births in every subsequent year. The colony has experienced steady expansion over the past decade, culminating in a record count of 14 pups last year.
Sustained Colony Growth
Overall population counts on the reserve have steadily climbed. The reserve reached its highest total count on record in December 2024, when surveyors logged 563 grey seals. Prior peaks included 518 seals in 2021, 483 in 2019, and 360 in 2018.
Marine conservation officer Beth Churn credited the colony's growth to ongoing habitat management and disturbance-reduction measures. Churn noted that staff work to keep the shoreline secure so that adult seals feel safe enough to return to breed annually. She added that pup counts regularly reach double digits, reflecting a sustained positive trend for the colony.
Viewing Rules and Protection
Direct public access to the haul-out beach remains prohibited to protect resting and nursing animals. Visitors can instead view the colony from three designated hides positioned around the perimeter. A new hide featuring an installed telescope is currently under construction at the Groyne area of the reserve.
The wildlife trust has urged visitors to remain at least 100 metres (328 feet) away from seals at all times. Signs of human disturbance include seals turning their attention toward onlookers or moving nervously. Trust officials advise anyone observing this behaviour to quietly and immediately back away.
Source: BBC Science.
Questions and answers
- Where is the grey seal breeding colony located in Cumbria?
- The colony is based at South Walney Nature Reserve near Barrow, which hosts Cumbria's only breeding grey seal colony and a major haul-out site.
- How many grey seal pups were born at South Walney last year?
- A record 14 grey seal pups were counted at the reserve last year.
- Can visitors see the grey seals at South Walney?
- Public access to the haul-out site is barred, but visitors can observe the animals from three perimeter hides while keeping a distance of at least 100 metres.
