A watchful volunteer mans a stretch of beach near Queens91裸聊视频� Park in Oak Bay, where fisheries officials hope a young elephant seal will just stay put.

If he doesn91裸聊视频檛 act up or 91裸聊视频済o rogue91裸聊视频� like he did on Sunday, April 28, Emerson can stay and finish his moult there, says Paul Cottrell, marine mammal coordinator with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Cottrell and Emerson go way back. Far further than his stay in Greater Victoria waters. Last year, this time of year, Emerson finished his 91裸聊视频渃atastrophic moult91裸聊视频� not far from where he snoozed on Monday.

91裸聊视频淲here he is currently is not the ideal spot because it91裸聊视频檚 so busy,91裸聊视频� Cottrell told the Oak Bay News. 91裸聊视频淭he public is amazing they all love Emerson and they91裸聊视频檙e keeping their distance and being respectful.91裸聊视频�

The roster of volunteers take turns offering information to passersby and keeping an eye that Emerson doesn91裸聊视频檛 wander into the street, as he did the day before. Beach Drive was closed for several hours before Oak Bay police 91裸聊视频� much like their peers at Saanich police a couple weeks earlier 91裸聊视频� helped DFO steer young Emerson back into the water Sunday.

91裸聊视频淲e may have to relocate him if he does that again. We91裸聊视频檇 prefer not to have to move him but for his safety and the safety of the public. He91裸聊视频檚 not a small animal, he91裸聊视频檚 likely 500 pounds or so. He91裸聊视频檚 very friendly for the most part but dogs and small children, if he91裸聊视频檚 startled, and of course cars, it91裸聊视频檚 not a good mix,91裸聊视频� Cottrell said.

91裸聊视频淚f he behaves we can let him finish his moult here. But I91裸聊视频檓 not sure that91裸聊视频檚 going to happen.91裸聊视频�

The foray into the street and subsequent return to the water, did give Cottrell a chance to check out Emerson91裸聊视频檚 skin. He figures the young seal is halfway through his moult 91裸聊视频� where their fur and top layer of skin comes off in large patches 91裸聊视频� with at least two weeks left.

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A regular to the region, Emerson emerged at the Gorge Waterway in March. There he played in traffic too frequently and DFO relocated him to Barclay Sound. Within days, he reappeared in Greater Victoria, and has been beach-hopping since.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 been all over different beaches in Oak Bay and Victoria the past week and a half, two weeks. It91裸聊视频檚 kind of like, it91裸聊视频檚 not Where91裸聊视频檚 Waldo it91裸聊视频檚 Where91裸聊视频檚 Emerson. So that91裸聊视频檚 been a challenge,91裸聊视频� said Cottrell. 91裸聊视频淥f course we91裸聊视频檙e following him with the volunteers, the caution tape to protect him and the public, but it is a challenge. We91裸聊视频檙e hoping that he stays put here. He looks happy but we91裸聊视频檒l see. And again if he does get into trouble in terms of in a high traffic area, high people area, where he91裸聊视频檚 in the neighbourhood we91裸聊视频檙e going to relocate him if that happens again.91裸聊视频�

It91裸聊视频檚 happened before where a harbour seal was struck by a car and killed.

91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 want that for Emerson and we don91裸聊视频檛 want that for people driving,91裸聊视频� Cottrell said.

While Emerson seems to seek out a crowd, this is the season of the elephant seal moult, and any could appear on beaches in the region.

Anyone who sees an animal being harassed or injured, or an injured or sick animal exhibiting unusual behaviour is asked to call the DFO 24-hour hotline at 1-800-465-4336.

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