First pup of the season!

The pup was born sometime overnight December 15-16. The Marine Mammal Center had a pool on when the first seal would be born. The winner got to give the pup a nickname, and won some cookies. Julia Stanert was the winner. She named the pup Ella, in honor of her granddaughter.

One docent reported that Ella didn't nurse right away, but she was nursing well by Monday, when I first saw her. She was already filling out her wrinkly baby skin.

For purposes of this blog, and because she has a feminine name, I'll call her 'she.' Actually, it's not possible to tell from a distance whether she is male or female.

On Tuesday, Ella was joined by two more pups, born nearby.

Ella already looks bigger than her siblings, although she is only four days older.