About a year ago, subadult male RK58 appeared on the beach with two puncture wounds, one on each side of his head. His body condition quickly deteriorated. His weight dropped. his head wounds swelled and oozed. He was reported to be lethargic and unresponsive to human activity on the beach.
After a health assessment, it was determined RK58 had been attacked by a dog. He was captured and flown to Ke Kai Ola on Hawaii Island where he was rehabilitated and, eventually, returned to Kauai and released.
Unfortunately, the RK58 dog encounter wasn’t the last.
Last September, a woman reported two large dogs barking at a seal hauled out at Makua Beach on the north shore. The seal growled in return and moved toward the water.
In December, a large dog pinned down a seal also at Makua. The dog’s owner pulled the dog off the seal. The seal left soon afterward and no blood was observed. The next day, the dog’s owner called to self-report the incident.
This year, already, two more incidents have been reported, both taking place at Mahaulepu. In one, two off-leash puppies flushed a seal into the water. No contact was made. In the other, three off-leash dogs flushed a seal into the water. In both cases, the dog owners were nearby but not in control of their dogs.
And these are the only incidents that have been reported.
The seal’s health isn’t the only concern in these interactions. Seals carry diseases that are communicable to dogs. Hawaiian monk seals, like any wild animal, are likely to act aggressively if they feel threatened. A dog that is merely investigating too closely may be considered a threat to the seal.
As a reminder, dogs are not allowed at County of Kauai beach parks. Elsewhere, according to Kauai County Code Leash Law Section 22, dogs must be under control of their owner by a leash (not more than eight feet long) when off the owner’s property.
Too, Hawaiian monk seals are protected by Federal and State laws. Owners of any dog that disturbs a monk seal may be cited in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and/or the Endangered Species Act.
In general, to help monk seals:
- Keep beaches clean.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle.
- Keep seals wild—give them space.
- When fishing, pull your fishing line in until the seal leaves the area.
- Keep cats exclusively indoors. Cats that live outdoors spread the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, which is lethal to monk seals and other native wildlife.
- Vaccinate your pets and keep dogs leashed at all times. Dogs have injured and even killed monk seals through attacks and bites, and they can disturb seals resting on the beach. They can also transmit diseases to seals.
- Promote healthy oceans.
- Share your enthusiasm and educate others.
Click here for more ways to be a friend to endangered Hawaiian monk seals.
Kaua'i Seals 