Humans aren’t the only ones trying to soak up some rays on Cape Cod’s sandy shores.
While the bird's-eye view photos below may initially look like an empty beach strewn with dark sand, a closer look will show you those brown dots are actually thousands of seals. Nearly 15,000, to be more exact.
Although the slick sea mammals were once a rarer sight on the New England shores, Cape Cod’s seal population has been steadily growing thanks to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
Unfortunately, not everyone finds these seal-filled shores delightful. NPR reported that the growing population has led to a shark infiltration, and Cape Cod Today wrote a blogpost on April 1st implying that Barnstable County was putting a $20 bounty on every seal brought to the county sheriff's office. Although this was probably an April Fool's joke, the tongue-in-cheek tone shows that the seals' presence may be irking some citizens.
Do you find these seals adorable or hazardous? Check out these stunning images, and let us know in the comments below!
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story insinuated that Barnstable County's seal bounty was a legitimate offer. The article this information was based on is likely satire.
