Harbor seals are the most abundant marine mammal in Puget Sound, Washington. The birthing season is typically in July through September in southern Puget Sound. Adult females usually mate and give birth every year and the pups are weaned after about four weeks and can live for 25 to 30 years.

Harbormaster at Seattle’s Elliott Bay Marina,Brian Kaloper, was walking to his office on Monday morning when something caught his eye on the marina's G dock which is usually heavily traveled. It turned out to be a seal which was he thought was very odd for it to be there.

Kaloper then went into his office to review some of the security camera footage and that's when he became aware of what the seal was doing there. What the camera had recorded, was the seal giving birth to a pup, alternately laboring and taking a few breaks to rest. Immediately after the pup was born, the mother turned around and nudged its face and body, as if to make sure it was alright, then she looked around the dock.

Kaloper had his marina staff quickly lock the door to the gate to protect the mother and baby. They also put up caution tape and kept the dock closed for a few hours, until the mother and newborn were back in the water.

Kaloper said the marina staff are used to seeing wildlife around the facilty, but the birth was astonishing to witness. “Our staff sees plenty of seals and pups swimming about, but to catch nature in its most pure form on camera during a regular Monday was unbelievable,” he said. "One of our dock hands saw them this morning and the pup was riding around on mom's back and just having a great time."

Kaloper shared video of the birth on YouTube and it has quickly started making the rounds on the Internet.