Poor Little Sod

Something I suspect most road runners don't come across during their training.

My car was being serviced in Aberaeron, and as I am taking a weeks holiday between jobs, I took the opportunity to run along the coast path from Aberaeron to New Quay and back, about 6 miles each way. I did this section in June in trail shoes, but I do wish I had worn studs today as I slipped over a few times. Wales in November so I got soaked on the run down. Enjoyed a coffee, some welsh cakes, a read of the paper in New Quay and started to run back.

On the beach north of New Quay I came across this little fellow and a reasonably elderly lady who had just pulled him out of the surf at no small risk to her self. Her friend had gone to get a phone. She was walking 2 dogs, one of which was deaf and blind and would every so often bump into the Seal pup, and then bark at it, but facing the the wrong direction.

We waited a while, but the Octonauts failed to arrive. I had my mobile with me so via the Coastguard (I was one long ago ago, so had a good idea they can be the official in the middle for such things) who somehow got in touch with Bert the man who rescues Seals in mid-Wales. Only took Bert the Seal man about 40 minutes to get to us.

While a Seal pup looks very nice, injured as it was, it was still very keen to demonstrate its ability to hiss and show its teeth to make you think that handling one is best left to someone like Bert who know what they are doing. Seals carry Salmonella, so care and gloves are required in their handling.

The Seal pup had lost one eye (crows picked it out), was exhausted to the point it could not move itself and bleeding from the mouth. I expect he got washed around by the storm last night. Bert thought the seal pup was about 2 weeks old, still dependent on its mother and would have died if left. Seal pups appear in September/October and this one was probably born quite late in the year.

A young couple staying at the Caravan park above the beach were part of the team which carried Seal pup across the beach and up to Bert's car in a dog cage. It was being taken to the Seal hospital in Milford Haven. The couple named him Nelson and Bert told us how to visit him. I won't be going to see him, best to do your bit and move on in such things. As I was still damp from the run down, I got cold, even though the Sun came out while waiting on the beach. I was happy to see Nelson in the back of the car and to get running if I am honest.

Should nature have been left to take its course? Possibly. I don't know if Nelson was a grey or a common seal and what the population balance is in the Irish Sea. Since someone was bothered about saving it, I guess it must have been worthwhile. In short, not for me be the judge for the future of a fellow mammal.

So if you do run along the coast this time of year, then Welsh Marine Life Rescue on 01646 692943 is a useful number to have programmed into your mobile.