Family discovers an unexpected animal napping on their porch: a seal pup

You never know what kind of animal you might find right outside your doorstep. Recently, one family got quite a surprise after a very unexpected animal wandered far from home and decided to take a nap on their porch.

According to a Facebook post from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, a family in Wellington discovered a seal pup outside their home last week, curling up for a cozy nap on their porch:

“It had been on a bit of a mission, climbing up the seawall stairs, crossing a road, hiking up a footpath, a driveway, and finally another set of stairs, before reaching its nap spot,” the Department of Conservation wrote.

“It’s not every day you come home to find a seal curled up on your front porch.”

The creature is a New Zealand fur seal, or kekeno. Despite the name, they are not true seals, and are more closely related to the sea lion.

It’s not uncommon for young seals to pop up like this during this time of year: May through September is known as “seal silly season” in New Zealand, when young pups and adult males leave their colonies.

These seals like to explore the wider world during this period, and locals often find seals in the roadways, public spaces and even their homes.

But the Department of Conservation stresses that this is normal and that the seals should to go about their business without much intervention: “They might look skinny or sick, with weepy eyes and a cough, but this is normal – seals are very resilient animals,” they wrote on Facebook. “Seals need rest, not rescuing.”

However they also said that if a seal is on your property, injured or in danger, it’s best to call the department. In the case of this sleepy porch seal, an officer arrived and relocated it to a safer location away from dogs and traffic.

Related Posts

The Nurse Who Changed Our Lives..

After giving birth alone at sixteen, a young mother spent four terrifying hours waiting for her baby, fearing the worst in an unfamiliar hospital room. The nurse finally…

After Saying Goodbye to My Husband, I Secretly Booked a Year-Long Cruise Without Telling Anyone

After burying her husband, a widow who spent decades sacrificed for her selfish family bought a year-long cruise ticket to reclaim her life and freedom. When her…

“Wheel of Fortune” Contestant Solves Big Puzzle in Stunning Moment

For four years, a compassionate neighbor brought daily warm meals to a lonely, forgotten elderly woman sitting on the curb of Maple Street. While others walked past…

Six Years of Silence, One Battle for a Daughter…

For four years, a compassionate neighbor brought daily warm meals to a lonely, forgotten elderly woman sitting on the curb of Maple Street. While others walked past with…

The Quiet Power of Kindness..

For four years, a compassionate neighbor brought daily warm meals to a lonely, forgotten elderly woman sitting on the curb of Maple Street. While others walked past…

A father’s question caused a sweet surprise…

When a young girl hid a bag of coins earned from helping an elderly neighbor, her father discovered it and gently asked her where the money came…