Record number of seal pups as breeding season ends

A record number of seal pups have been counted at a nature reserve as the breeding season draws to a close.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust said at least 14 grey seal pups were born at its South Walney Nature Reserve near Barrow from late August.

The trust said that it had been a "really early season" this year with more than 563 seals counted at the site between September 2024 and March 2025.

Alex Wright from North West Wildlife Trusts said it had been "really special" and was "amazing to have them here in Cumbria".

The trust said the grey seal colony had grown from single figures in the 1980s and 90s.

The pupping season usually runs from October to mid-November at the site, but this year the first animal was spotted on 31 August.

It is the 11th year in a row pups have been recorded at Cumbria's only breeding grey seal colony.

Mr Wright said: "There might be a few more pups to come, we'll have to wait and see."

He said the really young pups, aged up to a month old, were "really pale, almost white" before they "moult, grow bigger and begin making their way out to sea".

He said it was a "privilege to see them" and was "amazing to have them here in Cumbria".

The team said while counting, they had to go undetected, so the seals could not see or smell them.

Abi O'Leary, an intern at North West Wildlife Trusts, said: "The seals eat a lot of fish and when you're surveying you can definitely smell that, it's not the most pleasant smell."

The trust said it had set up a seal cam for those wanting to see the new additions to the beach.

The trust urged those visiting the site to stay "at least 100m (328ft) away" from the seals.

It said if the mammals became distressed, they could stampede and crush small seal pups.

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