The Department of Conservation has captured the seal that found its way to a suburban backyard in west Auckland on Sunday morning.
Massey resident Joanne Rose initially thought there was a dog taunting her chickens. When she realised it was a seal, she was "stunned".
"I went and woke up one of the kids to make sure I was seeing right," she told Newshub.
Ms Rose then phoned the council and the Department of Conversation (DoC), who will take the seal to be released in a suitable location.
DoC marine ranger Gabrielle Goodin said it's normal to see seal pups beginning to wander in warmer weather.
"In the winter months the pups have finally weaned off their mothers so they go out into the world and are just exploring."
While it used to be unusual to see them in the suburbs, it's becoming more common due to a booming population, especially in Auckland.
"People just need to start being aware of the seals and how to interact with them," Ms Goodin said.
"Keep 20 metres away, especially if you've got dogs or children, seals can have a really nasty bite."
If you find a seal where it's not supposed to be, call the 0800 DOC HOT hotline (0800 352 468).
Newshub.
