PORT ANGELES – GT678L, a northern elephant seal that took up residence on City Pier last week, was moved Thursday morning.
The animal is continuing its annual monthlong molting process on a beach inside the Coast Guard base on Ediz Hook, where the public is not permitted.
“There was no real stress on the animal,” said Bob Steelquist of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
“It went very smoothly.”
Sanctuary and city employees used a hoop net, which has a semi-rigid entrance and a heavy net that constricts as the animal moves inside.
“The animal actually looked very peaceful,” Steelquist said.
“It went in the net, was covered up and then put into a trailer and moved to Ediz Hook.”
The northern elephant seal, a juvenile female estimated to weigh 300 pounds, swam ashore at Hollywood Beach about 9:30 a.m. May 10.
It made its way to a grassy area outside the Arthur D. Feiro Marine Life Center to begin an annual molt of its fur.
A large area in front of the Marine Life Center was taped off to protect both the animal and the public.
Volunteers from the Olympic Coast Discovery Center acted as sentries and information sources for a steady stream of people who strolled by.
But people did not stay out of that area, said city spokeswoman Teresa Pierce.
The move was “for the protection of the public and her as well,” she said.
Viral, bacterial and fungal diseases can be transmitted both from the seal and to the seal from people and pets, Pierce said.
Steelquist said the decision to move GT678L came at the request of the Northwest Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
It was done in the animal’s best interests, he said.
