PORT ANGELES — A juvenile female elephant seal is molting on Ediz Hook near the Coast Guard station.
The seal is to the south side of the road near the Coast Guard Group/Air Station Port Angeles.
Orange cones are set up to direct traffic to drive around her.
Ed Bowlby, research coordinator for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, cautioned people to keep their distance from the animal and to keep pets away from her.
“This is a very stressful time for a seal,” he said. “It is a very painful process for them.”
He said people should not attempt to feed the seal or put water on it.
“People often think they are helping,” he said. “But it isn’t helpful, and, in fact, is harmful to the animal.”