They may be babies. They may be darn near irresistibly cute. And they may even look like they’ve been abandoned and desperately need your help.

But they don’t.

Seal pups will be common sight through birthing season, which begins in June and runs through August, and experts with the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network are once reminding the public that the little guys need their space.

“The best thing you can do is to leave the animal alone;  its best chance for survival is in the wild,” according to a news release.

Harbor seal pups may haul out in the same place for several days or weeks at a time. This does not mean they are abandoned. Nursing pups remain with their mothers for four to six weeks and are often left alone for long periods. It’s a chance for mothers to hunt and pups to rest and regulate their body temperature in the sunshine, the release said.

There are 3,000-5,000 harbor seal pups born in Washington inland waters each year. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act harbor seal populations have recovered to healthy numbers, but the population is at carrying capacity (maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely). Up to 50 percent will die the first year, according to the release, and the public is urged to “respect nature’s role” and resist the urge to interfere.

People should try to keep a distance of 100 yards, keep dogs on a leash, and if the animal is injured call the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network 1-866-ORCANET (866-672-2638) for Island, Skagit, and Port Susan beaches; or call NOAA Fisheries Regional hotline at 1-866-767-6114 for pups in other areas of the Salish Sea.

Harbor seals are protected by law under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Federal marine mammal regulations prohibit harassing seals to reduce human disturbance of important life processes.