Current Patients at MMSC

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. He is resting comfortably in Pen 3 of the Pool House.

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. He is resting comfortably in Pen 4 of the Pool House.

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. He is currently resting comfortably in Tub 8 of the Hut. 

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, who weighed 51.8lbs at intake, is currently resting in Tub 7 of the Hut. We are happy to report that this patient has already started eating on his own.

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, who weighed 56.4lbs at intake, is currently resting in Tub 6 of the Hut. We are happy to report that this patient has started eating on his own.

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. He is currently resting in the Hut, and is being treated for a respiratory infection and heavy parasite load. This patient is currently in guarded condition.

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 before completing the final leg to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Here she was met by MMSC’s veterinarian for her intake exam. Additional bloodwork and cultures were taken, and she is currently being treated for dehydration and malnutrition. Her intake weight was 53 lbs. The Harp seal is currently resting comfortably in Tub 5 of the Hut. We are happy to report that after settling into our hospital over the weekend she has started eating fish on her own.