Baby Fur Seal Wanders Into New Zealand Bar During ‘Silly Season’

A craft beer bar in Richmond, located at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, had an unexpected guest on a rainy Sunday evening—a baby fur seal. Co-owner Bella Evans said she first mistook the visitor for a dog, only to realize moments later that a lost young seal had waddled inside.

The bar’s patrons were initially shocked but quickly moved into action. One customer attempted to guide the seal toward the back door using a sweater, but the adventurous animal darted into a bathroom before hiding under the dishwasher. Another customer retrieved a dog crate, while Evans tried luring the seal out with salmon, one of the pub’s pizza toppings.

New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DoC) had already been tracking the wandering seal, receiving multiple reports from locals earlier in the day. According to DoC spokesperson Helen Otley, this is typical during the annual “silly season,” a period when juvenile seals and sea lions frequently explore unfamiliar locations, sometimes traveling up to 15 km inland along rivers and streams.

Rangers safely relocated the seal—nicknamed Fern by the pub staff—to nearby Rabbit Island, a dog-free area considered safe for wildlife. Otley noted that growing seal populations, thanks to successful conservation efforts, are leading to more human encounters.

Evans said Fern was the first patron she has ever had to evict, but added that the seal is welcome back anytime. “There’s been the running joke that we’ve got the seal of approval,” she said.