Baby Seal Found on New Jersey Coastal Road
Underweight Pup Rescued and Receiving Intensive Care
A baby seal that was sleeping in the middle of a road in the coastal area of New Jersey, USA, has been rescued. Although it was found on a busy four-lane road, fortunately, this did not result in a major accident.
On March 3, Yonhap News TV, citing the New York Post, reported that in late February, a female gray seal estimated to be 6 to 8 weeks old was found on Long Beach Boulevard in Long Beach Island. The seal was lying and sleeping in the center of a four-lane road early in the morning, and a passerby who witnessed the scene reported it to the police.
A baby seal sleeping in the middle of a road in the coastal area of New Jersey, USA, was rescued. Although it was found on a busy four-lane road, fortunately, it did not lead to any major accidents. Marine Mammal Stranding Center SNS
The staff from the Marine Animal Rescue Center who responded safely relocated the seal using capture equipment and a transport cage. At the time of the rescue, the seal showed little resistance to human approach and was reportedly in an exhausted state. The rescue center stated that although the seal had no external injuries, it weighed only about 15.8 kilograms. This is significantly lower than the normal weight range of 22 to 27 kilograms for gray seals of the same age. Experts analyzed that, considering the seal’s poor nutritional status, it is highly likely that it experienced difficulty securing food after being weaned from its mother.
Gray seals generally become independent after about two weeks of feeding on their mother's milk. The mother's milk has a very high fat content, enabling rapid weight gain over a short period. After weaning, the pup must find food in the ocean on its own. In the case of young individuals, a lack of hunting experience can lead to significant energy loss, and if they fail to secure food, their weight can drop rapidly.
Gray seals mainly inhabit the North Atlantic coast and tend to approach relatively close to shore during the winter and spring. In particular, baby seals are frequently observed resting on sandy beaches, breakwaters, or rocks to maintain their body temperature. During this process, cases have been reported where they lose their sense of direction or are swept inland by tidal currents.
The dispatched staff from the Marine Mammal Rescue Center safely relocated the seal using capture equipment and a transport cage. At the time of the rescue, the seal showed little resistance to human approach and was reported to be relatively exhausted. Marine Mammal Stranding Center SNS
In fact, there have been occasional incidents along the U.S. East Coast where seals appear near urban areas. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a seal was found resting on a beachside road and was rescued, and in Long Island, New York, a seal was discovered in a residential yard. Experts do not rule out the possibility that changes in the marine ecosystem and the movement patterns of prey, resulting from climate change, may have influenced these occurrences.
However, experts note that it is unusual for a seal to be found sleeping in the middle of a four-lane road, as in this case. The police stated, "Fortunately, there was no incident of the seal being struck by a vehicle," and urged, "Drivers should reduce their speed and pay close attention, as unexpected wildlife can appear on roads near the coast."
The rescued seal is currently recovering at the Marine Animal Rescue Center, being treated with special formula and fish. The center plans to release the animal back into the wild after an approximately eight-week rehabilitation process, once it has regained sufficient weight and hunting ability. A representative of the rescue center stated, "Early nutritional recovery is especially important for young individuals," and added, "Once its health stabilizes, we will also provide wild adaptation training."
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