One of the two harbor seals rescued
Two wounded and malnourished harbor seals were rescued over the long and cold holiday weekend on the shores of Long Island.
A female harbor seal was found in Long Beach on December 30 by the The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. She had a lesion on her face and was malnourished.
On January 2, along the Fire Island National Seashore, another female harbor seal was found lethargic and had numerous wounds on her underweight body. Both seals are believed to be yearlings–about one year old.
“We plan to treat these seals with antibiotics that fight against infection during their rehabilitation at our hospital facility,” says Senior Biologist and Foundation Executive Director, Robert A. DiGiovanni, Jr.
The facility is located at the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium and guests will be able to monitor their recovery at a new animal informational kiosk. The seals will remain hospitalized until they are given a clean bill of health and can be released.
What to do if you come across a sick or abandoned seal on a beach:
- Do not touch, pick up, or feed the animal. Do not return the animal to the water. Seals temporarily “haul out” on land to rest and mothers briefly leave their pups while at sea. A beached whale or dolphin should be reported immediately.
- Observe the animal from a distance of at least 150 feet, which is a legal distance for the majority of marine mammals. Keep people and dogs away.
- Note the physical characteristics like size and fur or skin color. This will help us determine the species and what rescue equipment and volunteers are needed.
- Note the animal’s behavior. Are there any open wounds? Does it have any identification tags, gear trailing it, or markings?
- Determine the exact location of the animal for accurate directions. We cannot rescue an animal if we cannot find it.
- Call the Riverhead Foundation’s 24-hour Rescue Hotline at 631-369-9829.
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