Police investigating illegal seal hunt after animal killed at Portugal Cove-St. Philip's marina
Incident being treated as illegal hunt, weapons offence, police say
What started as a chance to see a seal up close in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's has now turned into a police investigation.
The animal was allegedly shot and killed on Monday night.
Tammy and Lydia Shea live near the marina where the incident is said to have happened. Tammy Shea told CBC News she had been there earlier on Monday taking photos and video.
She said seeing a seal in the area has been uncommon in her 11 years of living there. So when she took her daughter to see the seal Monday evening, both were shocked with what they saw.
The seal, they say, had been killed.
"We saw a couple vehicles here, so we figured that they were just viewing them as well. But then when we approached, like, we realized that there was another bystander who had witnessed the killing," Tammy Shea said Tuesday.
"When we came, he was squealing his tires and trying to get this thing in the car and move as quickly along."
She and Lydia watched the bloody carcass be dragged through the snow in a clear bag and placed in the trunk.
Lydia, 9, said she was hurt by the act. She was eager to see a seal in person for the first time.
"It just, like, ruined my chance to actually see a seal in real life," she said. "They can't just take that away from everyone here."
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary media relations officer Const. James Cadigan told CBC News in an emailed statement that police responded to the marina around 9 p.m. Monday. Cadigan says police are investigating the incident as an illegal hunt and firearms offence.
Under Newfoundland and Labrador's Wildlife Act, it is illegal to fire a gun within 300 metres of homes.
Police are asking for anyone with video footage of the area to come forward as part of the investigation, and believe the person responsible was a young adult man dressed in dark clothing.
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is also investigating the illegal harvest of the seal.
Tammy Shea shared news of the incident on Facebook, and said many who responded shared the same outrage and disgust.
She and her daughter want to see some kind of protection for animals in the area.
"You don't get the right to shoot animals from our community," Lydia said.
"You can hunt ducks, but you don't go to Bowring Park and shoot ducks that people are enjoying. And I think that this should be a place that we get to enjoy and feel safe," added Tammy Shea added.
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Corrections
- A previous version of this story stated that Tammy Shea saw a person shoot the seal at the Portugal Cove-St. Philip's marina. In fact, Shea told CBC News that she did not see anyone shoot or kill the seal, but only saw the dead animal being taken away.Jan 29, 2025 6:16 AM EST
With files from Jenna Head