A craft beer bar in Richmond, New Zealand, had an unexpected patron on a wet Sunday evening when a baby fur seal waddled through the door. Bella Evans, the co-owner of the pet-friendly Sprig + Fern The Meadows bar, initially mistook the small creature for a dog before the surprising reality of the situation became clear.

The incident marks the height of what scientists call the annual “silly season” for seals. This period, typically from June to September, is when young, newly weaned seals and adult males leave their colonies to explore, sometimes ending up miles inland in peculiar locations like busy roads, backyards, and now, apparently, pubs.

A Slippery Customer

“Everyone was in shock,” Evans noted. “Oh my gosh. What do we do?” Patrons and staff moved quickly to ensure the animal's safety. After a brief chase that led through a bathroom, the seal found refuge under a dishwasher, which was promptly unplugged. A customer even fetched a dog crate from home to assist.

To coax the visitor out, Evans turned to a special on the pub's menu. “I just went to my fiance, I said, ‘grab the salmon! Grab the salmon!’” she recounted. The lure worked, and soon after, rangers from New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DoC) arrived.

The rangers were already searching for the adventurous pup, confirming it was their fourth callout for the same seal that day. Helen Otley, a DoC spokesperson, praised the bar staff for keeping the seal safe and explained that such exploratory behaviour is normal, driven by the success of conservation programs that have seen seal populations grow.

While this particular interaction ended safely, it serves as a reminder of the increasing proximity between humans and wildlife. In Kenya, human-wildlife conflict often involves high stakes with elephants or big cats. This lighter incident from New Zealand offers a different perspective on co-existence, driven by the curiosity of a young animal. The DoC advises the public to keep a safe distance of at least 20 metres from seals and to never feed them.

The young seal, nicknamed Fern by the bar staff, was safely released on Rabbit Island, a nearby dog-free sanctuary. Evans joked that her pub had received the ultimate “seal of approval” and confirmed the unusual guest would be welcome back anytime.