By MADDY VITALE
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) has been busy rescuing and rehabilitating grey seal pups making their way from the north to New Jersey waters.
On Feb. 7, a dehydrated and thin wayward seal pup was discovered wandering down West Avenue in Ocean City between 42nd and 43rd Streets. The pup survived a near-collision with a car and is currently recovering at the MMSC in Brigantine.
Valentine’s Day brought another grey seal to the MMSC and two seal pups the following day. The first was discovered stranded at 66th Street in Sea Isle City on Feb. 14.
Sheila Dean, director of the MMSC, could not be reached for comment Monday. However, a representative from the center directed SeaIsleNews.com to the center’s website for the latest patient information at https://mmsc.org.
According to the MMSC’s website, the young seal was “was wheezing, and suffering from numerous small wounds across her face, flippers, and body.”
The seal was admitted to the MMSC for treatment.
And although her weight was “good for her age,” with an intake weight of 42.8 pounds, she requires medical attention for “her respiratory infection and wounds.”
The young seal is being given supportive care via tube feeding that consists of a mixture of formula and electrolytes and is “currently resting comfortably,” according to information on the MMSC website.
Grey seals nurse for only about two weeks, and once weaned they are completely independent. They weigh about 30-35 pounds when they are born and by the time they are weaned, they can triple their body weight. The pups will live off of their fat reserves as they learn to hunt for fish on their own, according to the MMSC website.
The MMSC website gives a detailed explanation about the grey seal migration and how pups often have an arduous journey.
“With the annual grey seal pup migration in full swing, many pups are now making the long swim from their birthing grounds in New England and Canadian waters to New Jersey,” the MMSC staff said. “Along the way, these recently weaned pups are learning to hunt for their food on their own and evade predators. By the time they reach our beaches, they need their rest, and some pups that have not fared as well as the others on their journey, need MMSC’s help.”
On Feb. 15, a grey seal pup was found on the north end of Brigantine Beach in Atlantic County close to the dunes. He is estimated to be 2-3 weeks old, according to the MMSC.
The pup “likely did not learn how to eat on his own after being weaned from his mother, or was weaned too early,” the MMSC said.
The pup is receiving supportive care via tube feeding and is currently resting.
And like that rescue, the MMSC continues to rely on the Good Samaritans who have been calling in the seal sightings.
Also on Feb. 15, the MMSC got an urgent call from Beach Haven in Ocean County for a seal pup that had a plastic overwrap from a case of bottled water around its neck.
The grey seal was immediately transported to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center where the entanglement was removed. The pup is undergoing supportive care.
These are just some of the recent grey seal pup strandings that the MMSC has been caring for with the ultimate goal of rehabilitating them and returning them to the ocean.
Staff at the MMSC credited the kindness of others who have reported the seal strandings to the center.
“Thank you to all of our amazing supporters who continue to help us be there for them, we couldn’t do it without you,” the MMSC staff said on the website.
To donate to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/njmarinemammal
For the 24-hour Marine Mammal Stranding Center hotline, call (609) 266-0538.
