Rescued harbour seals released 'home for the holidays' in B.C.

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Eight rescued harbour seals were released back into the ocean Thursday.

The seals were taken in by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society.

The society rescued 87 animals this year, lower than typical years where more than 100 mammals are taken in.

One harbour seal was taken in with the help of Charlotte Morrison, who was kayaking near Anvil Island in September when she noticed the frail-looking pup.

She kept an eye on her for a few days before deciding to contact the rescue society.

“She obviously had been abandoned by her mother and wasn't being fed," she said. "But every time you went out on your paddleboard, she came straight up to the paddleboard and kind of suckled on the paddleboard."

With the help of the society, they managed to get the pup, now known as Binson, into a boat and take her in for treatment.

On Thursday, the rescue became full circle for her, as she released the gate of Binson’s cage, releasing her back into the water.

“I couldn't believe that we could actually do that, because it's lovely to see her through her whole, you know, journey so far,” Morrison said.

This was the final release of the year for the Marine Mammal Rescue Society, which calls the event "Home for the holidays."

Dozens of volunteers with the society watched as the eight seals returned back into Porteau Cove.

“It might be a little bittersweet as some bonds are grown, for sure," said Martin Haulena, a vet and executive director of the Marine Mammal Rescue Society. "All of us get bonded to those animals. But it's awesome at the end of the day."

Harbour seals are required to weigh at least 22 kilograms before being released back into the wild. Binson was just eight kilograms at the time of her rescue.

“The animals that come to us are very much malnourished. They're hypoglycemic, typically very dehydrated. They might have all sorts of secondary issues wounds, bird packs, dog bites, seal bites,” said Haulena.

Most rescues are due to human encounters, according to Haulena. He reminds people to stay at a distance from marine wildlife.