In an incident that sounds like the start of a joke, a baby fur seal became the most unexpected patron at a New Zealand craft beer bar, leading to a chaotic and memorable evening for staff and customers.
A Wet Sunday Surprise
The unusual event unfolded on a wet Sunday evening, 04 December 2025, at the Sprig + Fern The Meadows bar in Richmond, located at the top of New Zealand's South Island. Co-owner Bella Evans, accustomed to dogs in the pet-friendly venue, initially mistook the waddling visitor for a canine. A closer look revealed the truth, sending the bar into a state of shock. "Everyone was in shock," Evans recounted. "Oh my gosh. What do we do? What's going on?"
The Great Salmon Rescue
The young seal, well below the country's legal drinking age, proved to be an elusive guest. After a patron unsuccessfully tried to usher it outside with a sweater, the creature evaded capture, darting into a restroom before finding refuge under the bar's dishwasher, which was promptly unplugged. With the seal firmly lodged, a quick-thinking customer fetched a dog crate from home.
Evans then devised a plan to lure the animal out. Spotting a pizza topping on the specials menu, she knew exactly what to use. "I just went to my fiancé, I said, grab the salmon! Grab the salmon!" she said. The tactic worked, and the seal was secured until help arrived.
Conservation Rangers on the Case
It turned out that Department of Conservation rangers were already tracking the wandering seal. "It was their fourth call for the day," Evans explained. The rangers had been searching a new-build subdivision for the animal. A department spokesperson, Helen Otley, confirmed they had received "numerous" public reports about a seal in Richmond that Sunday.
Otley praised the bar staff, saying they "did a great job keeping the seal safe." The seal, later released on nearby dog-free Rabbit Island, was exhibiting normal behaviour for a curious juvenile. "They can turn up in unusual places, like this pub, but this is normal exploratory behaviour," Otley stated, noting that young seals can travel up to 15 km inland via rivers.
The incident highlights the success of New Zealand's conservation programmes, which have led to growing seal and sea lion populations and increased human encounters. Scientists refer to an annual "silly season" where the animals frequently appear in strange locations, from golf courses to busy roads.
For Evans, who has only owned the pub with her partner for a few months, the baby fur seal—affectionately named Fern by staff—was her first unruly patron needing eviction. She insists the animal is welcome back, quipping, "There's been the running joke that we've got the seal of approval." And for future visits? Salmon will remain firmly on the menu.
