During the spring and summer months, a new generation of harbor seal pups try their flippers in the coastal inlets and estuaries of Oregon and Washington, often seen near Nehalem and Tillamook bays.

The marine mammals, born in seal rookeries or waters familiar to previous generations, spend a great deal of their early lives on land.

Capable of swimming but unable to tread water for long, the young seals rely on mom for a fresh catch.

Fish, mollusks and crustaceans are plenty in Northwest waters and keep seals growing. The pups’ time on land also helps to regulate their body temperature; they’ll return as adults to rest on shorelines and rocks.

In the meantime, though, these pups face many threats, from predators on land to unsuspecting encounters with humans. There is a familiar scenario that goes something like this: a beachgoer finds a young seal, resting alone on a secluded beach. The visitor concludes that the adorable pup, its beaded eyes and whiskers scanning its surroundings, must have been abandoned.

But marine experts urge keeping a safe distance. Touching or disturbing the seals is illegal, and if humans get too close, mothers will sometimes not return to feed their young.

Instead, concerned seal enthusiasts can give a call to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

This will alert local wildlife officials to the seal, who will respond and observe the pup. In many cases, responders will post signs, helping the flippered friend to avoid being disturbed and grow closer to a life at sea.