New guidance to help protect Forvie seals

The reserve is home to Scotland’s largest grey seal haul out at the mouth of the River Ythan. Seals can be easily disturbed by human presence and November and December is a particularly sensitive time as this is when vulnerable pups are born. 

Previously advice was to keep a safe distance from the seals at the reserve, but visitors are now being asked to avoid the point where they haul out completely due to ongoing disturbance. Signs have been erected on the reserve to advise visitors of the new local access guidance.

As ever, people who would like to see the seals are encouraged to do so from a safe distance on the south side of the river at Newburgh, where a new all-abilities boardwalk and viewing platform offers the best views and photo opportunities of the colony while helping to keep the seals safe.

Forvie NNR reserve manager Cat Reid said:

“Unfortunately we have found that people are still approaching the seals or walking too close to them, whether though over-enthusiasm or ignorance. Combined with this, seal numbers on the haul-out have been staying consistently high, which means there is a greater injury to animals if they stampede.

“We also know from new studies that, on land, younger animals seem to hang out on the edges of the group. They are often therefore closest to any disturbance and the first to react. But they are doubly vulnerable because their smaller body size makes them lose more heat energy when they’re trying to escape and they are more likely to get squashed by bigger animals if there is a stampede.

“If there are pups, they can get killed in a stampede or be abandoned by mum as a result of disturbance. A lot of seals come here to moult their fur and this takes up a lot of energy, so they really don’t need or want to use extra energy escaping from people.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their consideration in following the access guidance and watching the seals from Newburgh. With a little space and respect, these animals can live their lives in peace and we can still enjoy seeing them from a safe distance.”

As a designated seal haul-out site, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly harass a seal at Forvie. If anyone thinks they have witnessed a wildlife crime on the reserve, they should contact Police Scotland on 101.

Pic credits: Danny Bean/NatureScot