Are you Wildlife Wise? - What is Wildlife Disturbance?
Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Cornwall’s coast is one of the UK’s most cherished wild places, but it’s also one of the busiest. With more people enjoying our beaches, cliffs, and seas than ever before, it’s never been more important to share these spaces responsibly.
Wildlife disturbance can be subtle, but the impact is real. In this guide, we’ll help you recognise the signs of disturbance and show you how to enjoy Cornwall’s marine and coastal wildlife without causing harm.
What is Wildlife Disturbance?
Wildlife disturbance occurs from human activity, changing an animal’s environment or behaviour. With most wildlife, the effects of disturbance can often go unnoticed, but it’s always a waste of the animal's energy.
Animals can be particularly vulnerable during breeding seasons, in winter, and when they are resting or moulting. To help protect marine wildlife at these sensitive times, some areas may be closed or have restricted access. Always check local signage, which will indicate when and where restrictions are in place.
Seal Disturbance
Seals are semi-aquatic animals, spending time both on land and in the sea! They spend roughly 20% of their time on land – digesting their food, sleeping and giving birth to pups. However, this is where they will feel the most vulnerable.
With seals, disturbance isn’t always easy to detect, but in most cases, disturbance occurs when humans are too visible, too close and too loud.
Signs of Disturbance
- Vigilance: if a seal has seen or heard you, they will instantly be on alert. This will be the first stage of disturbance, and when you should start moving away.
- Splashing and vocalisation: this is where a seal is feeling threatened, and they are telling you that you are too close!
- Stampeding into the sea: to seals, the sea is their safety. If a seal is moving quickly towards the sea, a high-level disturbance event has occurred.
Best Practice
Enjoy the beautiful views, but please keep a safe and respectful distance from seals. Seals are sensitive animals, particularly during the pupping season, and can become easily disturbed. Watch for signs of stress such as raised heads, restless behaviour, or movement toward the water. If seals begin to look at you repeatedly, this indicates they are becoming unsettled and may panic quickly. If you notice any of these signs, move away slowly and quietly. When frightened, seals may rush into the water and risk injuring themselves or their pups. Never attempt to touch or feed seals, and please be considerate by not overstaying your welcome.
Cetacean Disturbance
Whales and dolphins can respond differently to the presence of boats and other watercraft. All cetaceans rely on sound to communicate and locate their prey, but some species are more sensitive to noise than others. Engine sounds, propellers, and sonar-based devices can overlap with the frequencies used by species like common dolphins, potentially disrupting their communication and causing stress or panic - especially for mothers and their calves.
Signs of Disturbance
- Abandoning Activities: Cetaceans may stop feeding, socialising, or resting if boat presence or noise disrupts their natural behaviour.
- Changes in Diving: Extended dives, surfacing less frequently, or unusual dive patterns can indicate stress.
- Sudden or Erratic Movement: Rapid changes in speed or direction, sharp turns, or frenzied swimming may show that the animals are alarmed.
- Avoidance Behaviour: Moving away from boats or shifting position in the water to avoid noise or proximity.
Monitoring for these behaviours can help boat operators and wildlife enthusiasts act responsibly and reduce the risk of harming these animals.
Best Practice
Enjoy watching cetaceans from a safe distance, and never get into the water with them. These amazing animals can become very stressed if disturbed, especially if separated from their social group. If two or more boats are already near a group of cetaceans, give them space and wait for your turn. When observing from your boat, go slow (around 6 knots), keeping at least 100m away, and limit your visit to 15 minutes. Let the animals
come and go as they wish, and never chase, harass, or outstay your welcome. Respectful watching keeps both you and the wildlife safe.
