A record number of grey seals have been recorded at a South Cumbrian nature reserve.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust said 563 seals were counted earlier in the season, which runs from September 2024 to March this year.
The previous highest grey seal counts were 518 in 2021, 483 in 2019 and 360 in 2018, showing an upward trend year on year.
Beth Churn, marine conservation officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “This is wonderful news and a real landmark for us.
“The growth of the grey seal colony at South Walney is a great conservation success story. The colony has grown from single figures in the 1980s and 90s and now we have exceeded our previous highest count by nearly 50!”
Beth explained how the grey seal population is counted: “We take great care using a drone, which flies very high and requires special permission from Natural England, to avoid distressing the seals and other wildlife.
“We’ve been using this technology to survey the seals for the past few years. It’s a great resource for us to use, although we’re continuing with our traditional surveys, which involve us crawling across the shingle and watching the seals through binoculars, to compare counts and record their behaviour.
“Both methods are important, but the drone gives us more accurate numbers.”
The best way to see the South Walney seals is to follow Cumbria Wildlife Trust on social media and watch the live sealcam.
Alternatively, visitors to South Walney can watch the seals in the sea at high tide from a safe distance in Groyne Hide. People will need binoculars or a viewing scope to see them). There is no access to the beach where the seals haul out.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust has appealed to all sea users, including kayakers, anglers, jet skiers and boats, to maintain at least 100m distance from the seal colony at all times.
Good views of the seals can easily be had using binoculars from a safe distance, and there is no need to get too close, the trust said.
Generally, you’ll know if you’re too close because the seals will start to look at you and move nervously. If this happens, you should immediately start backing away quietly to avoid further disturbance.
South Walney Nature Reserve near Barrow is open daily from 10am to 5pm (4pm in winter).
The visitor cabin is open with information and activity packs for children and a monitor streaming the live sealcam.
Dogs are not allowed on the nature reserve, apart from assistance dogs.
