Care needed with dogs in coastal areas to protect native wildlife
Media contacts:
Andrew Baxter, DOC Nelson/Marlborough marine ecologist, ph: +64 3 546 3172 or Trish Grant, DOC Nelson/Marlborough communications advisor, ph: +64 3 546 3146
See also:
Sharing our coasts with marine mammals - this brochure summarises the simple rules you need to follow around whales, dolphins or seals.
Date: 17 September 2008
A dog attack on a seal pup on the Nelson city shore this week has prompted an appeal from the Department of Conservation for people to keep dogs under control in coastal areas to protect coastal wildlife, including seals and shore birds.
DOC Nelson/Marlborough marine ecologist Andrew Baxter said the seal pup had sustained some dog bites but survived the attack on the shoreline by the Nelson Golf Course on Tuesday. Mr Baxter took the seal pup to the Boulder Bank where he released it into the sea but the pup was in a weak condition and he thought it might not live.
"We are not blaming the dog owner for the incident. She was distressed about it and did everything she could once she realised the seal pup was there. She was able to control one of her two dogs and with the help of other people her second dog, which had attacked the seal, was brought under control.
"The incident though highlights the need for people to be cautious if exercising their dogs on beaches and other coastal areas in Nelson and Tasman. We are asking people to keep a careful watch on their dogs, to preferably keep them on a leash or at least close, and keep dogs away from any seals or shore birds that are around.
"Dogs can frighten and attack seals which come ashore in many parts of Tasman and Golden Bay during spring as they move away from the breeding colonies. Seal pups are particularly vulnerable at this time as they are newly-weaned and can be skinny and weak as they learn to fend for themselves.
"Shore birds such as variable oyster catchers and banded dotterel will be nesting on beaches over spring and summer and caution with dogs is also needed to protect these birds. Dogs can disturb nesting birds causing them to leave their nests which can lead to embryos in eggs being destroyed.
"Seals and shore birds are part of our natural coastal environment and we appreciate help from the public to protect native wildlife and keep shore areas safe for them."
Shore birds nest on sand spits and on most sandy beaches in Golden Bay and Tasman Bay so care is needed in all these areas. Signs alerting people to the presence of native wildlife are in place in some areas and people are asked to comply with advice on signs.