POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — A female gray seal pup found in the middle of the road in Point Pleasant Beach during a nor’easter in January has been rehabilitated and released into the wild, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center has announced.
That gray seal, who was underweight and dehydrated, had recovered and weighed nearly 80 pounds when she was released on the beach in the North Brigantine Natural Area on March 25, the center said.
The release reduced the center’s patients to 13 briefly, but what continues to be a very busy season brought three new patients into the center just two days later, the center said.
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Officials shared a video of the release on the center’s Facebook page. In addition to the Point Pleasant Beach seal, five other gray seals were released: two from Sea Isle City, one rescued from Island Beach State Park, and one rescued from Bethany Beach in Delaware.
The sixth seal was a female brought in for a 24-hour observation that was determined to be healthy and not in need of rehabilitation, center officials said.
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The Point Pleasant Beach seal, tagged No. 66 on her right rear flipper, was the first to leave her crate on the release, the center said.
“She had become the most dominant seal in the pool, so it was interesting to watch her check out all the crates and not leave the beach until the final seal entered the water,” the center said. “She was last spotted interacting with one of the males, with both seals continuing to splash each other in the distance.” Read more: Seal Pup Rescued From Road In Point Pleasant Beach
The release of the six seals made room for the Marine Mammal Stranding Center to take in more patients, and the center brought in three last week, giving it 16 seals currently receiving treatment.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center offers a symbolic adoption program for the seals it assists. The seals released who will be available for adoption can be found on the center’s adoption pageas follows: Point Pleasant Beach (24-003), Delaware (24-007), Island Beach State Park (24-008), Sea Isle City (24-009) and Sea Isle City (24-010).
“It continues to be a busy seal season in New Jersey with sightings of grey, harbor and harp seals being reported on beaches and in back bay estuaries. Our Stranding Staff and certified MMSC Stranding Volunteers have been hard at work monitoring resting seals all over the state,” the center said.
Most of the animals have been healthy and just resting on the beaches, officials said.
“We are thankful to our volunteers who have spent long, cold hours on the beach to ‘seal sit’ these weary pinnipeds, helping to keep them safe from people and dogs getting too close,” they said.
The three seals brought in were a female harp seal yearling (24-067) found stranded on March 25 in Sea Isle City at 53rd street. It had a large open laceration on the right side of her head and a large abscess on her right shoulder. She was being treated and was eating on her own, and was “in stable but very guarded condition due to the extent of her injuries,” the center said.
On March 26 a female gray seal pup (24-068) was found stranded in Ocean City at First Street. She had a wound on the back of her neck that had developed an infected abscess, and edema (swelling) in both of her front flippers. She was being treated and was being assist-fed by technicians.
Also on March 26, a male gray seal pup (24-070) was found stranded in Long Branch at Seven Presidents Park. He was lethargic and emaciated and technicians were assist-feeding him, the center said.
The center reminds residents who are heading to the beaches while schools are out to “please keep MMSC’s 24-hour hotline in your phone, 609-266-0538, and call us with your sightings so that MMSC staff and certified Stranding Volunteers can assess the health and safety of the seals,” the center said.
Seals are federally protected, people should stay at least 150 feet away and keep dogs at least that far away as well.
“Please DO NOT post the locations of seals on social media, as it just drives more people to the scene, increasing the amount of harassment of these tired animals who are just trying to sleep,” the center said.
“Finally, please consider making a donation to MMSC this seal season to help support our rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Donations help provide critical veterinary care such as diagnostic testing to guide treatment plans, medication, supplements and food,” the center wrote.
“Thank you to our amazing supporters who gave these seals their second chance at life in the wild,” officials wrote. “We simply could not do this work without YOU.”
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