Popeye (seal)

Popeye is a female harbor seal that has become the official seal of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Washington.

Biography

Since 1995, Popeye has been a frequent visitor to Friday Harbor. Her visits became so common that in 2005, the Port of Friday Harbor named her the port's official seal.[1] The State of Washington mandated that each public port have an "official seal," possibly thinking of an ink stamp; the Port director and Port commission: Greg Hertel, Brian Calvert and Mike Ahrenius interpreted this differently giving the beloved seal the title. A granite sculpture of Popeye was also commissioned and stands in Fairweather Park, adjacent to the marina.

She is known as Popeye presumably for her left eye which is a cloudy white—something that has also been reflected in her statue.

Popeye is a major attraction for the town of Friday Harbor, but few people know that it's against the law - as enforced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - to feed any marine mammal in Washington state waters.

Popeye was featured on 92.9 KISM's Brad and John show, "When Animals Attack," on Wednesday, August 18, 2017. Popeye, the 200+ lb seal, attacked a man on Thursday, August 10 in the Friday Harbor Marina.[2]

She has not been seen since the late 2010’s, presumably due to a natural death, as female harbor seals only live 25–35 years of age.[3]

  • Popeye in 2005
    Popeye in 2005
  • Statue of Popeye in Fairweather Park, Friday Harbor
    Statue of Popeye in Fairweather Park, Friday Harbor

References
  1. "Popeye the Harbor Seal | San Juan Islands Washington Visitors Bureau | Orcas Island | Lopez Island | Friday Harbor | San Juan Island". Archived from the original on 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  2. "Celebrity harbor seal bites boater in Friday Harbor". 14 August 2017.
  3. "Harbor Seal".
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