The Canadian town of Roddickton-Bide Arm, Newfoundland has called upon their federal government to help them handle an invasion of at least 40 seals.
It is not uncommon for Newfoundland to see harp seals during this time of year due to their migration south that typically begins in December.
Mayor Sheila Fitzgerald explained their lingering presence.
"They came in with the high tide, and the winds picked up and now they're trapped, because the ice formed behind them."
A Newfoundland town is asking for the federal government to step in and help them combat an invasion of seals. Watc… https://t.co/DxxzzZve7F— CTV News Vancouver (@CTV News Vancouver) 1547159163.0
The mayor also stated,
"It actually feels like we're being inundated with seals, because there's seals on the road, there's seals in people's driveways, the backyards, the parking lots, the doorways, the businesses. I don't see that there's any way that these seals are going to survive unless [Department of Fisheries and Oceans officers] pick them up and literally bring them back to the edge of the ice."
At this point, two of the seals have died.
It is believed that they were victim to being hit by cars as their gray fur blends in with the roads.
People are wondering where the DFO could possibly be.
Seal on the road in Roddickton. I guess someone should call DFO and report that the people are killing them, then y… https://t.co/dUkfvNqGT9— Brendon FitzPatrick (@Brendon FitzPatrick) 1546627426.0
Seals at mouth of the brook in Roddickton. Wonder where’s DFO. Those seals been there for a few weeks. They are 4 o… https://t.co/YlFSiduRSw— Brendon FitzPatrick (@Brendon FitzPatrick) 1546622225.0
This Newfoundland seal stranded inland and just hanging out on a driveway is a big mood. https://t.co/8jVae72q83 https://t.co/TordMBxfR2— Mack Lamoureux (@Mack Lamoureux) 1547159717.0
The Roddickton seal saga has taken a dark turn — two seals confirmed dead. Dozens of disoriented seals are wanderi… https://t.co/ZVOAer69ly— Holly McKenzie-Sutter (@Holly McKenzie-Sutter) 1547074642.0
@DFO_NL Aren’t they starving? Are you going to save them?— dawn renee (@dawn renee) 1547169178.0
Others are frustrated that they can't do more to help the creatures.
@CTVVancouver Sso sad, dare we take the humanitarian approach and at least feed them, where possible? Chance of bei… https://t.co/FdareMA9Dd— riklegaree (@riklegaree) 1547186159.0
@CTVVancouver Obviously something very wrong with the seas if seals are turning up on mass on land starving . It’s their planet too.— Grace Kelly (@Grace Kelly) 1547194189.0
Hopefully the DFO will step up and aid these poor animals.