'Nasty' blood infection warning if bitten by seal

People who get too close to a seal are at risk of a "nasty" blood infection linked to the creature if they get bitten, according to experts.

Advice from the RSPCA is for people to stay at least 100m (328ft) away from seals if possible, and back away slowly if they get too close.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity has warned people who do get bitten are at risk of a condition called "seal finger".

Louise Round, who is an advanced marine animal medic with the charity, said: "It's a really nasty blood infection, it's horrible. It could basically mean you lose the finger."

Ms Round advised those entering the water around the South West to keep their distance.

"They're not like a dog or a puppy, you can't just go up and stroke them and they're going to appreciate that," she said.

"They are a wild animal not used to humans. If you get too close they are going to bite."

She explained "seal finger" is caused by the necrotic bacteria on their teeth.

She advised anyone bitten by a seal to go to hospital as soon as possible.

It is currently pupping season with seals visible around many parts of the coast in Cornwall and Devon.

Ms Round said: "They're actually doing really well. We're massively lucky in this country in that we have 40% of the world's population around our coastline.

"The vast majority of that is around the south west coastline.

"Globally they are a rare species so just because they're doing quite well around here, globally they aren't doing great.

"So we really need to appreciate these animals and understand how lucky we are to get these glimpses of them and have them on our coastline."

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].