Wildlife

Grey Seal Welfare During Breeding Season: Pup Survival and Human Disturbance

Welfare guide for grey seal breeding colonies — how human disturbance affects pup survival and maternal behaviour.

Key Facts

Grey seals are the largest land-breeding mammal in the UK — with over 40% of the world population
Breeding colonies form from October to December — pups are born and suckled for 3 weeks before being abandoned
During the suckling period, any disturbance can cause cows to abandon pups prematurely
Abandoned pups face starvation — a severe welfare harm that is entirely caused by human disturbance
Pups lose their white lanugo coat and moult to waterproof adult fur by weaning time
Seal rescue organisations rehabilitate abandoned or sick pups — a significant welfare intervention
Marine debris entanglement — particularly in ghost fishing gear and plastic bands — causes painful lacerations and death
Haul-out site disturbance during winter can force seals into the sea in severe cold — increasing energy demands

Welfare Significance

Grey seal welfare during the breeding season is acutely sensitive to human disturbance. A single disturbance event can break the mother-pup bond and lead to pup death from starvation — one of the most direct and preventable welfare harms involving wild animals in the UK. Simple rules around exclusion zones and quiet approach protect hundreds of individual animals from unnecessary suffering.

What You Can Do

Stay at least 100 metres from seal colonies during the breeding season (October-January)
Do not use drones near seal colonies — the disturbance effect is severe
Report injured or abandoned seal pups to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR)
Advocate for marine debris removal and ghost gear retrieval in seal colony areas