Off-Leash Dog Kills Endangered Seal at Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore is known to be the home of a diverse group of marine animals, some of which are endangered. On April 22, an unfortunate event occurred on the park’s North Beach when an off-leash dog attacked and killed a Guadalupe fur seal, a species that is listed on the Endangered Species Act.

The incident is a stark reminder to keep your dog on a leash, unless in a designated area.

“We want visitors to experience the beauty of Point Reyes, but ask everyone to please follow the rules to have an enjoyable and safe experience & help us protect the wildlife,” Point Reyes officials wrote on Twitter.

A visitor saw the attack and contacted The Marine Mammal Center, which attempted a rescue, but the animal was deceased when rescuers arrived. If you saw this incident or have any information that can help us locate the dog owner, please contact the park at 415-464-5100.

The Guadalupe fur seal has a very limited range along the California and Mexico coast, with its breeding ground Guadalupe Island, approximately 150 miles off the west coast of Baja, California. The seal was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1985 after it was hunted to near extinction in the 19th century. The current population of Guadalupe fur seals is estimated to be at least 34,000.

Point Reyes works tirelessly to protect its marine mammal populations, specifically different seal species. For more information of their protection programs, click here.

For a map of all the designated dog areas in the Point Reyes National Seashore, click here.