OCEAN CITY, N.J. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — An animal rescue nonprofit in New Jersey rescued a seal pup that had been wandering toward the ocean in Ocean City after receiving multiple reports late Wednesday evening.
Marine Mammal Stranding Center received the first of multiple calls just before 5 p.m. reporting a seal moving down the road, the nonprofit said.
The male gray seal pup, which was later found to be between four and six weeks old, was first discovered by residents after he was hauled out of the bay at West Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets.
MMSC’s stranding coordinator responded, and residents kept the rescue service updated on the pup’s movements. He traveled from a backyard to the sidewalk to the middle of 42nd Street, where MMSC said witnesses reported a close incident with a car.
“Special thanks to Officer Steve from the Ocean City Police Department who blocked traffic as the determined seal continued down the road, crossing multiple intersections,” MMSC said in a Facebook post explaining the rescue.
According to the rescue service, the pup went over a quarter mile toward the ocean in 20 minutes. The stranding coordinator rescued the seal, which had gotten within 100 yards of the beach ramp.
He was underweight and exhausted from what MMSC called an “unusual journey,” and he was admitted to the nonprofit’s ICU. The seal was given supportive care through tube feeding him a mixture of formula and electrolyte solution to help hydration.
“This is the second seal this season that we have rescued from a roadway, and a good reminder to be careful driving in our shore communities, especially during coastal flood advisories as you never know what you may come across,” MMSC said.
The organization said that over the last 46 years, there have been many cases of specifically gray seals getting stranded. The animals are born on islands and instinctively move toward bodies of water.
MMSC’s 24-hour stranding hotline can be reached at 609-266-0538.
The nonprofit included a donation option in their Facebook post, asking “Won't you please consider donating to MMSC this seal season to help support our efforts with sick and injured seals?”