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<i>From Bill Hodgson on Stronsay's Facebook page:</i><br>
<br>
After Rosalind and I went to the aid of the Grey Seal pup tonight I
thought the below may of interest.<br>
Rosalind and I are also looking at trying to get a British Divers
Marine Life Rescue medics course arranged on Stronsay. This will
depend on numbers. If anyone is interested we will look at options
to have the training delivered on Stronsay. Please PM if interested.<br>
Grey seal pups are the adorable, fluffy offspring of grey seals
(Halichoerus grypus) \u2014 large marine mammals found in the North
Atlantic, including around the UK, Ireland, the US east coast, and
parts of northern Europe. Here are some key facts about them:<br>
\U0001f43e Appearance<br>
At birth: Pups are covered in a soft, white fur called lanugo, which
helps keep them warm on land but isn\u2019t waterproof.<br>
After 2\u20133 weeks: They shed this white coat for a sleeker,
grey-spotted adult-like one that\u2019s suitable for swimming.<br>
Weight: Around 10\u201315 kg (22\u201333 lbs) at birth and can double their
weight in just a couple of weeks.<br>
\U0001f37c Life Cycle<br>
Birth season:<br>
Around September\u2013December in the UK and Northern Europe.<br>
January\u2013February in the northwest Atlantic (e.g., Canada, New
England).<br>
Nursing: Mothers feed pups rich, fatty milk for about 2\u20133 weeks.
During this time, the mother does not eat and relies on her stored
fat.<br>
Weaning: After about three weeks, the mother leaves \u2014 and the pup
must learn to swim and hunt independently.<br>
First swim: Usually occurs around 3\u20134 weeks old, once they\u2019ve molted
into their waterproof coat.
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