The first harbor seal pup of the season was born at approximately 4:45 Monday evening at a La Jolla beach known as the Children’s Pool, according to Patrick Hord, executive director of La Jolla Friends of the Seals. Mother Seal Plays With Pup The female pup was named Twelfth Night by LJFS members. Mother and pup were seen swimming together almost immediately after the birth. "This is unusual because these are wild marine mammals and they are giving birth right here … in San Diego," Hord said. "This is a very rare opportunity to see this happen. This is the only major harbor seal haul-out site on the mainland south of Santa Barbara." This birth was also unexpected because all 14 of last year's pups were born in the early morning hours. Harbor seals give birth on land, usually to a single pup in a season, though twins are born on occasion. Birthing season at San Diego's latitude is from February until April. Twelfth Night predates last year's firstborn pup by four days. Valentine was born on Feb. 16, 2000. Currently, six more pregnant seals are due to give birth at the La Jolla beach this season. "People should be very sensitive when they come to visit the seals, especially during this pupping season, as disturbances between mothers and pups can cause infant mortality," Hord said. Factors such as separation of mothers and pups, noises and intrusions into their rookery can cause seal pup mortality to be as high as 50 percent in the first year.