Recently Released Seals Gallery

On April 26th this juvenile male Grey seal was found on the beach in Ocean City at St. James Place. He was suffering from edema in his right rear flipper and alopecia (hair loss). He was in fair body condition with an intake weight of 52.8lbs. 

Update 7/23/26:  Fully recovered and weighing a healthy 103.2lbs, he was tagged #25 on his left rear flipper for future identification and released at the North Brigantine Natural Area.   

This juvenile male Grey seal found stranded on April 24th in Ocean City at 24th Street. He was suffering from edema (swelling) in his left rear flipper. His intake weight was 57.0lbs. 

Update 7/23/26:  Fully recovered and weighing a healthy 12.4lbs, he was tagged #24 on his left rear flipper for future identification and released at the North Brigantine Natural Area.   

This juvenile male Grey seal found stranded on April 23rd in North Beach Haven. He was very lethargic and in thin overall body condition. His intake weight was 52.6lbs. 

Update 7/23/26:  Fully recovered and weighing a healthy 107.4lbs, he was tagged #23 on his left rear flipper for future identification and released at the North Brigantine Natural Area.   

On April 18th we received a report of an injured seal lying on the beach in Mantoloking. When the Stranding Technician arrived, he found a juvenile male Grey seal suffering from significant swelling of his right rear flipper, puncture wounds, eye discharge and respiratory issues. The seal was immediately transported to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center for medical care. Upon his arrival, staff administered supportive care and cleaned his wounds.  Oral and topical medications have been started to prevent infection, and to help keep him comfortable during his recovery. The young seal weighed 51.8lbs at intake.

Update 7/23/26:  Fully recovered and weighing a healthy 108.2lbs, he was tagged #22 on his left rear flipper for future identification and released at the North Brigantine Natural Area.   

On April 12th we received a report of a badly injured seal lying on the beach in Holgate. When our Stranding Technicians arrived, they found a seal suffering from several lacerations on the posterior part of his body. The juvenile male Grey seal was immediately transported to MMSC for medical treatment and supportive care. Upon his arrival, staff administered fluids and flushed out his wounds. During his medical examination MMSC's veterinarian determined the likely cause of the wound is a shark bite from a failed predation attempt. Oral and topical medications have been started to prevent infection. The young seal weighed 56.4lbs at intake.

Update 7/23/26:  Fully recovered and weighing a healthy 120.2lbs, he was tagged #21 on his left rear flipper for future identification and released at the North Brigantine Natural Area.   

On April 7th we received a call to the Stranding Hotline for a seal in Island Beach State Park. The seal had been seen lying on the beach since the day before, and seemed lethargic. The male Grey seal had blood visible around his mouth and shoulder, and was suffering from patches of alopecia (hair loss). MMSC’s Stranding Coordinator transported the seal to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center for a medical assessment. Upon examination, increased respiratory effort was noted, with audible sounds during respiration. The seal also presented with a heavy parasite load, with lice, lungworm and intestinal roundworms. Bloodwork and cultures were taken. Staff began supportive care via tube feeding formula to rehydrate the seal and provide nutritional support. The juvenile seal’s intake weight was 64.2 lbs.

Update 7/23/26:  Fully recovered and weighing a healthy 118lbs, he was tagged #20 on his left rear flipper for future identification and released at the North Brigantine Natural Area.   

This female Harp seal was rescued by our colleagues at the Virginia Aquarium after stranding in Virginia Beach on Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17th). She was found hauled out on the beach for an extended period, and was very lethargic and dehydrated. After a full medical evaluation at VAQ it was determined that the seal needed to be admitted, however there was no rehabilitation space available, so she would need to be transferred to another facility for her recovery. The VAQ team reached out to MMSC for help, and soon a plan to transfer the Harp seal to New Jersey was put into action. 

Transporting the patient here took careful consideration, coordination and teamwork. The Virginia Aquarium team stabilized the Harp seal for the early morning transport, meeting our colleagues from the MERR Institute in northern Virginia for the second leg of the seal’s journey through Maryland and Delaware. After a trip across the Delaware Bay aboard the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, the seal was met by MMSC staff on the New Jersey side of the terminal. Once she arrived at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, she began treatment for a lung infection, malnutrition, dehydration, bilateral ear infections and a fractured tooth. Our friends from Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine at Rowan University assisted on this complex rehabilitation case, providing advanced diagnostic imaging to help guide her treatment plan. The Stranding Team, along with the help of our dedicated interns and volunteers, facilitated the intensive care required to bring this beautiful Harp seal back to full health.   

Update 6/30/26:  Fully recovered and weighing a healthy 117lbs, she was tagged #19 on her right rear flipper for future identification and released at the North Brigantine Natural Area.  

On March 30th we received a call for a Grey seal hauled out on the beach in Wildwood Crest at Toledo Ave. The caller indicated that the seal had been on the beach in the same location for over 24 hours. A certified Stranding Volunteer local to the area was immediately dispatched to observe the seal while MMSC’s Stranding Coordinator responded.

The male Grey seal pup was transported to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center for a medical assessment. In addition to being underweight, the examination revealed that the seal was suffering from an oral infection and had thick discharge coming from his ears. Bloodwork and cultures were taken, and treatment for infection was started. Staff began supportive care via tube feeding formula to rehydrate the seal and provide nutritional support. The pup’s intake weight was 38.6 lbs. 

Update 5/26/26- Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 81.4 lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #16 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 5/26/26 at the North Brigantine Natural Area.    

Last week the Marine Mammal Stranding Center welcomed a second patient from our stranding network colleagues from out of state. This male Grey seal pup was rescued by the North Carolina Aquariums OBX Marine Mammal Stranding Network after stranding in Corova, North Carolina. The pup had been hauled out on the beach for several days, and was very lethargic. OBXMMSN reached out to MMSC to ask if we had rehabilitation space available, and soon a transfer to New Jersey was planned. 

The seal was first transported to Virginia Aquarium to be triaged. Radiographs (x-rays) confirmed a small foreign body was present in the digestive tract. After an overnight stay at their facility, the VAQ team stabilized the Grey seal for the trip north, meeting up with our stranding network partners colleagues from the MERR Institute for the second leg of the seal’s journey through Delaware. After a trip across the Delaware Bay aboard the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, the seal was met by MMSC staff on the New Jersey side of the terminal before completing the final leg of his journey to our facility. 

Upon arrival, an intake exam was performed, with additional bloodwork and cultures taken. The pup’s intake weight was 46.4 lbs. He is currently resting in Pen A of the Intensive Care Unit and is being treated for foreign body ingestion and dehydration.  With the help of Rowan University's Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine, this patient's progress was monitored throughout his stay via digital x-rays until it was confirmed that he passed the foreign body. 

Update 5/26/26- Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 92.2 lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #15 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 5/26/26 at the North Brigantine Natural Area.    

On March 6th we received a call for a seal resting near the dunes close to a beach access path in Mantoloking. The male Grey seal pup was in good body condition with no obvious signs of injury. The seal’s behavior was observed overnight by certified Stranding Volunteers local to the area. When the seal didn't move on by the following morning, the Stranding Team returned the next day on March 7th to transport the pup to MMSC for an evaluation. Wheezing was detected upon examination, raising concerns that he was suffering from a respiratory infection. Once admitted into the hospital, staff began supportive care via tube feeding electrolytes and formula. Treatment for a respiratory infection was started. The seal's intake weight was 33.4lbs. 

Update 5/26/26- Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 91 lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #17 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 5/26/26 at the North Brigantine Natural Area.    

On March 18th this male Grey seal was spotted on the beach at Plainfield Ave. in Lavallette. He appeared to be in good overall body condition, so he was left to rest on the beach under the watchful eye of a certified MMSC Stranding Volunteer until nightfall. When the volunteer returned to check on him the following morning, there was evidence that the seal had been vomiting bile overnight. The Stranding Team transported the juvenile Grey seal to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center where he was admitted into the hospital for veterinary care. The seal was given critical supportive care and nutritional support through tube feeding a mixture of formula and electrolytes. Bloodwork and cultures were taken, and treatment for gastrointestinal illness and respiratory infection was started. He weighed 53.6 lbs. at intake. 

Update 4/28/26- Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 79.8 lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #14 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 4/28/26 at the North Brigantine Natural Area.