Save the Bay Featuring Seal Watch Tours

By: Tim Studebaker

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NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE) – It’s a sunny and mild Friday, well mild by February standards, out on Narragansett Bay.  A boat packed with families looking to catch a glimpse of harbor seals pushes off from the dock for an hour-long cruise.

Matt Young from Middletown says, “It’s nice to be able to get outside, stretch your legs a little bit.  Get to explore the environment and learn different ways you can help out with Save the Bay.”

We’re heading out on a tour highlighting the seals and other wildlife that call Narragansett Bay home during the winter months.  The seals are visiting our warmer waters from their other home in the Gulf of Maine and eastern Canada.

Save the Bay Captain & Education Specialist Chris Dodge says, “End of October, beginning of November all the way through about the end of April to the beginning of May.  This is kind of like their vacation down to Florida during the winter.”

Dodge says 40 or 50 years ago, you probably wouldn’t see any seals at all, but now there are laws protecting them.  Our tour today was met with luck, finding several seals sunning themselves on a rock under the Newport Bridge, and they were jumping and splashing around too.

Dodge says, “Barring any horrible weather, we usually stand a pretty good chance of finding some harbor seals.”

The sight was much to the delight of everyone on board.

Aiden Young from Middletown says, “I really liked that they handed out binoculars, so we could look on like the rocks to see them.”

Matthew Young from Middletown says, “I like how that seal was jumping out of the water.”

Tours depart from Newport and Westerly.  If you’re interested, visit their website here: https://www.savebay.org/family-fun/seals/

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