Recently Released Seals Gallery

On March 7th we received a call for a large adult male Harp seal hauled out on Brant Beach, Long Beach Island, NJ. The seal's behavior on the beach was observed for 24 hours by MMSC staff and certified Stranding Volunteers local to the area. When evaluating a Harp seal’s behavior, something we watch for is substrate eating. As an Arctic species, Harp seals often consume snow and ice for fresh water. When they haul out on our beaches, sick, dehydrated and stressed Harp seals may start eating sand, confusing it for snow, putting them in danger of gastric impaction.

When the seal didn't move on the following morning and showed evidence of consuming sand, two staff members from MMSC's Stranding Team returned the next day on March 8th. With the help of volunteers and the Long Beach Township Department of Public Works, the large seal was loaded into the Stranding truck and transported to MMSC. Once admitted into the hospital, staff immediately began supportive care via tube feeding to rehydrate the seal, and started treatment to flush the sand out of his system with fluids and mineral oil. The seal's intake weight was 154.9 lbs. We are also frequently supplying our new patient with piles of ice for his comfort, which he immediately consumed as soon as we got him settled into his enclosure. He is currently resting comfortably in Pen D of the ICU and has already started to eat fish on his own.  

Update 4/9-  Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 188 lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #99 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 4/9/25 at the North Brigantine Natural Area. 

On February 24th a male Harp seal was reported in Stone Harbor. The seal was observed eating sand, an usual behavior Harp seals display when dehydrated, suffering from an illness, or very stressed. Once admitted into the hospital, staff began supportive care via tube feeding to rehydrate the seal, and started treatment to flush the sand out of his system with fluids and mineral oil. His intake weight was 54.2 lbs. We are happy to report that this patient is eating on his own, and is resting comfortably in Tub 8 of the Quonset Hut.

Update 4/9-  Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 88 lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #96 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 4/9/25 at the North Brigantine Natural Area. 

Late in the afternoon on February 10th we received a report of a badly injured seal lying on the beach in Longport. When our Stranding Coordinator arrived, he found a very thin male Grey seal pup suffering from several lacerations on his abdomen arranged in a round pattern (approximately the circumference of a dinner plate) as well as several small puncture wounds on the left side of his mouth. The pup was immediately transported to the Center for medical treatment. Upon his arrival, the team cleaned his wounds and administered supportive care and nutritional support via tube feeding a mixture of formula and electrolytes. During his medical examination MMSC's veterinarian determined the likely cause of the wound was a predation attempt by a shark.  Oral and topical medication has been started to prevent infection, as well as pain medication to help keep him comfortable as he recovers. We are very happy to report that this pup is already showing interest in his food and is starting to eat on his own! Our newest patient, who weighed 37.8 lbs. at intake, is resting comfortably in Pen 2 of the Pool House. 

Update 4/8-  Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 88.4 lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #98 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 4/8/25 at the North Brigantine Natural Area. 

This small Grey seal pup was admitted to our rehabilitation hospital on February 9th after stranding in Atlantic City on the beach in front of the old Atlantic City Convention Center. The male pup was reported to be very thin and passing dark-colored stool. He was transported to MMSC where he was given supportive care and nutritional support via tube feeding a mixture of formula and electrolytes. The pup's intake weight was 31.6 lbs. with a length of only 33 inches, making him the smallest seal pup currently in our hospital. Our new patient is resting comfortably in Pen 1 of the Pool House, and is being assist-fed his meals by the Stranding Technicians. 

Update 4/8-  Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 73.8  lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #97 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 4/8/25 at the North Brigantine Natural Area. 

This male Grey seal pup stranded on the beach in Belmar on February 7th. Much like Grey seal #25-002 (Strathmere) who was admitted last week, this pup was still partially covered with his white birth coat (lanugo) and is very underweight. The pup was also exhibiting slightly labored breathing. Fortunately, the little seal was reported to our hotline by someone walking along the beach. One of our dedicated Stranding Volunteers was immediately dispatched to watch over him until our Stranding Team arrived. Once the team arrived back to the Center, the pup was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit. His intake weight was 38.8lbs. The staff began supportive care via tube feeding a mixture of formula and electrolytes to rehydrate the new patient and provide nutritional support. The pup is being treated for a suspected case of lungworms, and is currently being assist-fed by the Stranding Technicians. 

Update 4/8-  Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 81.8 lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #95 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 4/8/25 at the North Brigantine Natural Area. 

This male Grey seal pup was discovered resting at the base of the dunes in Strathmere on the evening of January 31st. MMSC’s Stranding Coordinator immediately responded and transported the little pup to the Center. The pup still had 80% of his white birthing coat (lanugo), so we are estimating his age to be approximately 3-4 weeks old. His intake weight was 31lbs. Despite being very thin, he is bright, alert and responsive. Once the pup arrived at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, he was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit. The Stranding Staff began supportive care via tube feeding a mixture of formula and electrolytes to rehydrate the new patient and provide nutritional support. We are very happy to report that over the weekend the pup started to show interest in his food, and after shredding a few fish, he is now eating on his own! Over the course of the weekend, he has shed most of his white lanugo and is now sporting his darker juvenile coat. This little pup will stay with us until  he has recovered and gained weight before being released back into the wild. 

Update 4/8-  Fully-recovered and weighing a healthy 91 lbs, he was ready to be returned to the wild. Tagged #93 on his left rear flipper, he was released on 4/8/25 at the North Brigantine Natural Area.