A New Zealand fur seal pup caused a stir when it waddled into a pub in Richmond on Sunday night.
Sprig + Fern The Meadows co-owner Bella Evans said staff were setting up Christmas decorations and serving customers just after 5pm when the seal came in.
"First of all, I just thought it was a dog or something, because we're a dog-friendly pub as well, and I had to do a double take, and I was thinking, 'oh my gosh, there's a seal'."
She told Breakfast that staff and patrons were "freaking out" and unsure what to do.
One customer tried to usher the seal outside using his jersey, but the pup bolted into the bathroom instead and stayed there for a while.
Another with a dog crate managed to get the young seal inside to keep it safe.
Department of Conservation (DOC) principal biodiversity ranger Helen Otley said multiple calls on Sunday alerted them to a young New Zealand fur seal/kekeno which had been seen on land in the Berryfields area.
"The duty ranger went and looked in the area where the seal had been seen several times but was unable to locate the seal. The pub staff did a great job keeping the seal safe until the DOC ranger could get there."
A fur seal pup caused a stir after waddling through a pub in Richmond, near Nelson. (Source: Supplied)
Otley said it was not unusual to see young fur seals onshore in the Tasman Bay area at this time of year "as they explore their environment after weaning".
"Seals can wander up to 15km inland, often following rivers and streams. They can turn up in unusual places – like this pub – but this is normal exploratory behaviour."
Evans said the seal would have pride of place on the pub's "dog wall", which features photos of visiting pets.
"It will be the star of the show there."
DOC later released the seal at Rabbit Island.
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