PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It’s seal season, and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, New Jersey is urging the public to stay away from resting and injured seals you may come across on the beach — for their safety and yours.
Director Sheila Dean said it is common to see the animals this time of year. Grey seal pups that are born in Canada or New England come ashore on Jersey Shore beaches to rest after swimming great distances.
Dean said the public should stay at least 150 feet away from them. If the animals feel threatened, they may retreat to the ocean and potentially drown, if they are still too tired. Or, they may attack and bite humans.
“It’s very important that they rest undisturbed because if people are making noise or getting close to them, then they might go back in the water and there is always a chance that one of these little guys could drown because they just don’t have the strength anymore. They need to rest,” she stressed.
“If they feel threatened, they are either going to run or defend themselves.”
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center has been rescuing and rehabbing mammals, including seals, for nearly 47 years. Currently, the facility is caring for 10 seals.
“They have various problems,” said Dean. “Some were bitten by sharks. Some have respiratory infections, other injuries that we don’t know where they came from.”
Injured and sick seals come ashore, too. If you see one, call the experts at the center at 609-266-0538 and they will take it from there.