Learn about the seals that the Marine Mammal Stranding Center has rescued, rehabilitated and successfully released back into the wild during the current 2022 seal season. Each seal's gallery includes updates and photos from their time in our hospital and their release.
On April 25th this female grey seal stranded in Sea Isle City with wounds consistent with canine bites to her head. She was brought back to the MMSC for supportive care and treatment for her injuries. Her intake weight was 57.2lbs. She is currently resting in Pen C of the ICU. We are happy to report that her wounds are already showing improvement. She is eating very well on her own, consuming 9lbs of fish daily.
Update 5/25/22- Completed medical treatments and has been moved to the large exercise pool to help build up muscles and endurance in preparation for release back to the wild.
Update 5/31/22- Grey seal #22-056, now weighing in at 70lbs, was tagged #42 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
Grey seal #22-056 resting in the ICU
On April 6th this male grey seal stranded in Brigantine with injuries to his lower jaw and chest. He was brought back to the MMSC for supportive care and treatment for his injuries. His weight at intake was 53.4lbs. He is currently resting in Pen 4 of the Poolhouse, and eating very well on his own as his wounds heal.
Update 5/25/22- Completed medical treatments and has been moved to the large exercise pool to help build up muscles and endurance in preparation for release back to the wild.
Update 5/31/22- Grey seal #22-025, now weighing in at 71lbs, was tagged #41 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
Grey seal #22-025 resting in Pen 4 of the Poolhouse
On April 2nd this female grey seal stranded on Higbee Beach in Cape May County suffering from an injury to her lower jaw. Her weight at intake was 55lbs. She is currently recovering in Pen 3 of the Poolhouse. She is eating very well on her own as her injury heals.
Update 4/25/22- Completed medical treatments and has been moved to the large exercise pool to help build up muscles and endurance in preparation for release back to the wild.
Update 5/2/22- Grey seal #22-035, now weighing in at 75lbs, was tagged #35 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
Grey seal #22-035 resting in Pen 3
On March 28th this female grey seal stranded in Ventnor with an injury to her right front flipper. Her weight is 47.6lbs. She was admitted to the ICU for supportive care and treatment for her injury. She is eating very well on her own as her flipper heals.
Update 4/25/22- Completed medical treatments and has been moved to the large exercise pool to help build up muscles and endurance in preparation for release back to the wild.
Update 5/2/22- Grey seal #22-031, now weighing in at 62.4lbs, was tagged #36 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
Grey seal #22-031 in the Hut shortly after being admitted
On March 27th this male grey seal stranded in Island Beach State Park with a wound on his back. He was brought back to the MMSC for supportive care and treatment for his injury. His weight at intake was 44.6lbs. He is currently resting in the ICU and is eating well on his own as his wound heals.
Update 4/25/22- Completed medical treatments and has been moved to the large exercise pool to help build up muscles and endurance in preparation for release back to the wild.
Update 5/2/22- Grey seal #22-029, now weighing in at 63.3lbs, was tagged #35 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
Grey seal #22-029 stranded in Island Beach State Park
On March 22nd we received a call for a stranded seal on the beach Surf City. The male grey seal, weighing 37.6lbs, had a laceration on his neck. He was brought back to the MMSC for treatment for his injury. His wound has already started to heal and he is now eating on his own.
Update 4/25/22- Completed medical treatments and has been moved to the large exercise pool to help build up muscles and endurance in preparation for release back to the wild.
Update 5/2/22- Grey seal #22-023, now weighing in at 67.2lbs, was tagged #39 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
Grey seal #22-023 in Pen 2 of the Poolhouse
On March 19th we received a call for a stranded seal on the beach in Asbury Park. When our Stranding Team arrived, they found a lethargic grey seal pup with increased respiratory effort and coughing up blood. The 44lb pup was immediately transported to the MMSC and given supportive care in our ICU. Upon examination it was discovered that she was suffering from respiratory parasites. Treatment was started to eliminate the parasite load. We are happy to say that she is bright and alert, and now eating on her own.
Update 4/25/22- Completed medical treatments and has been moved to the large exercise pool to help build up muscles and endurance in preparation for release back to the wild.
Update 5/2/22- Grey seal #22-021, now weighing in at 60.2lbs, was tagged #37 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
Grey seal #22-021 resting in the ICU.
This female grey seal stranded in Brigantine on March 13th, suffering from an injury to her jaw and missing a few teeth. Upon examination it was discovered that she has a midline division in the center of her lower jaw where the cartilage fuses the two pieces together. Fortunately, the injury is already healing, and she is able to eat fish on her own. The little seal is bright, alert and aggressive, all behaviors that we like to see in these wild animals. The pup is currently resting in our ICU while the cartilage continues to fuse. Her intake weight was 32lbs.
Update 4/25/22- Completed medical treatments and has been moved to the large exercise pool to help build up muscles and endurance in preparation for release back to the wild.
Update 5/2/22- Grey seal #22-017, now weighing in at 68.8lbs, was tagged #38 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
#22-017 stranded on the beach in Brigantine.
The male grey seal pup first started making his appearance in New Jersey resting on several beaches throughout Ocean County. Our Stranding Staff and volunteers monitored him at first as he was a healthy weight and in good body condition. He was spotted again on March 9th in Seaside Park with wounds consistent with a possible shark bite. The seal was admitted into the ICU for treatment for his injuries. He had a green numbered tag (#1774) on his right rear flipper. We reached out to our colleagues in the Northeast Region Stranding Network to identify him. We learned this pup was born on Muskeget Island in Nantucket, Massachusetts. He had been tagged by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as a part of a research project studying the population dynamics of grey seals to better understand regional movement, health, and disease. The grey seal is currently resting in our ICU while being treated for his injuries, and we are happy to report that he is already eating on his own.
Update March 28th- His injuries are healing up nicely.
Update March 29th- Moved to the large rehabilitation pool to build up his strength and endurance in preparation for release.
Update April 11th- Grey seal #22-011, now weighing in at 74lbs, was tagged #34 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
Grey seal #22-015 on the beach-note the green flipper tag #1774
This male grey seal stranded in Avalon on March 4th, suffering from an open would on his left front flipper. Once he arrived at the Center, he was moved into the ICU and given supportive care. The wound was cleaned, and treatment was immediately started to prevent infection. Otherwise, this seal is bright, alert and in good body condition, weighing in at 46lbs. We are happy to report that our new patient has started to eat on his own.
Update March 18th- The wound on his flipper is healing up nicely.
Update March 29th- Moved to the large rehabilitation pool to build up his strength and endurance in preparation for release.
Update April 11th- Grey seal #22-011, now weighing in at 60lbs, was tagged #33 and released at Sandy Hook Gateway National Park.
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