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

For the first two years of our marriage, there was a quiet, steady rhythm I never questioned. On the first Saturday of ever

For the first two years of our marriage, there was a quiet, steady rhythm I never questioned. On the first Saturday of every month, my husband would…

The Unexpected Birthday Cake That Changed How I Saw Family Forever

My birthday exploded the one boundary I thought I’d nailed. One knock at the door, one unevenly frosted cake, and every old resentment I’d buried came roaring…

From Ammonia and Vinegar to Cinnamon Oil, Garlic, and Lemongrass, These Seven Strong Scents May Help Deter Snakes Around Your Home—But Experts Explain Why No Smell Works Forever, How to Use Them Safely, and What Real Prevention Steps Matter Most for Keeping Snakes Away Long-Term

The first time you smell it, your eyes sting. Your throat tightens. You wonder how anything—let alone a snake—could stand it. Yet this same brutal scent, used…

My husband tried to kick me out with his mistress, but an hour later, he was the one left homeless

My marriage with Logan wasn’t the perfect one, and the struggle to conceive only added to the hardship, but he reached the lowest bottom when he kicked…

I sipped 2 oz of dill pickle juice every morning. 4 days later, this is what happened

I sipped 2 oz of dill pickle juice every morning. 4 days later, this is what happened.Full article   In the realm of unconventional health trends, pickle juice…

When I walked in holding my newborn, my 9-year-old daughter suddenly turned pale…

The moment I walked through the door holding my newborn, my 9-year-old daughter’s face went pale.  She burst into tears and yelled, Mom, please throw that baby…