Residents have been warned that some people are getting too close to a seal that has been pictured in Weymouth.
As seen in a video, a child has even been bitten after attempting to stroke the seal
A spokesman Wyke Coastguard Rescue Team said yesterday: "Our local seal took some time out at Greenhill this afternoon. Unfortunately, members of the public were far too close. One family within touching distance. Please observe the guidelines, it's their home too.
"Although when beached, our friendly seal may look docile, it can and will give you a nasty bite if you try and get too close as demonstrated by this child this afternoon."
According to the RSPCA, it is not unusual to see a seal or seal pup by itself as it could be resting. Mothers leave their pups very early on in life when they are weaned at three to four weeks old.
The charity advises that, should you find a seal pup that looks fit and healthy and shows no signs of distress, you should monitor it first from a safe distance for 24 hours; too many seal pups are taken into captivity because people mistakenly think they've been abandoned.
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