Baby seal wanders into New Zealand bar as owner uses pizza topping to lure pup out of hiding

The pub’s co-owner used an on-special pizza topping to try to lure the baby fur seal, named Fern by staff, out of its hiding spot, claiming the pup was the first unruly patron she has had to evict

A seal pup wandered into a New Zealand bar during what rangers refer to as annual “silly season”.

The fur seal pup waddled into the Sprig + Fern The Meadows craft beer bar in Richmond, on New Zealand’s South Island, about 400km north of Christchurch.

It is not unusual for curious young seals to turn up in unexpected places at this time of year as they follow rivers and streams up to 15km (nine miles) inland, the Department of Conservation spokesperson Helen Otley said.

“They can turn up in unusual places, like this pub, but this is normal exploratory behaviour,” Otley said.

Scientists refer to an annual “silly season” for seals, a period of months during which they regularly appear in strange places – houses, golf courses or busy roads.

Successful conservation programmes in the country have resulted in growing seal and sea lion populations, bringing them into closer contact with humans.

Co-owner of the pet-friendly bar, Bella Evans, assumed the visitor was a dog before taking a closer look.

“Everyone was in shock,” Evans said.

A customer grabbed a jumper and tried to usher the baby fur seal out of the back door, but the pup dashed into a toilet and then hid under the dishwasher.

Another customer fetched a dog crate from home as Evans planned lure the seal out of its hiding spot using a pizza topping the pub was offering as a special.

“I just went to my fiance, I said, ‘Grab the salmon! Grab the salmon!'”

The seal had been on quite a journey, with New Zealand’s conservation agency saying it received “numerous” reports from the public about a seal spotted in Richmond on Sunday.

Conservation rangers had been tracking the wandering pup, driving around the new-build subdivision trying to find the seal. The call from the bar was the fourth that day, Evans said.

The seal was released on nearby Rabbit Island, considered a safe location because of its dog-free status.

Evans said the pup, named Fern by staff, was the first unruly patron she has had to evict but was welcome back.

“There’s been the running joke that we’ve got the seal of approval,” she said.

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