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

I paid the price for being kind and lost my job—but the brooch that

The bookstore had always been my quiet refuge, the one place where everything felt calm and predictable. Sunlight poured through the tall windows, and the soft scent…

My Stepmom Stole the Keys to the Lake House I Inherited from My Late Mother to Throw a Party – Karma Taught Her a Lesson Before I Could

When my stepmother decided to throw a party at my late mother’s sacred lake house using a stolen key, I thought I would have to confront her…

Doctors reveal that eating pineapple causes… See more 😮👇

Pineapple is one of the most popular tropical fruits in the world, loved for its sweet, juicy flavor and refreshing taste. Whether eaten fresh, blended into smoothies,…

My husband didn’t know I make $130,000 a year, so he laughed when he said he’d filed for divorce and-

My husband handed me divorce papers while I was still wearing a hospital bracelet, the kind that reduces you to a number instead of a person. I…

What’s the Meaning Behind Green Lights on Cars?

Ever seen a car with bright green lights and wondered what it was about? At first glance, it might seem like a festive touch or an early…

Doctors reveal that regularly eating beetroot can lead to… See more

Doctors reveal that regularly eating beetroot, also known as Beta vulgaris, can lead to a range of subtle yet powerful health benefits that build over time. This…