PORTLAND (AP) — Back away from the seals, and don’t even think about taking a selfie.
That’s the message from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as Memorial Day weekend wraps up in Maine.
The three-day weekend typically kicks off the state’s beach-going season, and NOAA wants people to know that seal pupping season is also underway. That means encounters with fuzzy seal pups will be possible at the beach.
NOAA is reminding beachgoers that getting too close to a seal is bad for both the animal and the human. The agency has received reports of injuries to people who got too close to a seal while attempting to take a photo.
The agency says to stay at least 150 feet away from seals. Pets also must be kept away from seals.
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