On Wednesday March 13th the Marine Mammal Stranding Center received a call for a seal resting on the jetty at 5th Street and the Boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ. A certified Stranding Volunteer local to the area was dispatched to take photos and help staff assess the seal. The juvenile female Grey seal was in overall good body condition, bright, alert and active. She was resting at approximately the mid-point of the jetty, in a perfect spot to not be easily noticed as she enjoyed her nap. Stranding Volunteer Dawn stayed on scene to monitor the seal from a distance throughout the day to ensure that people would not approach her.
Two hours later the young seal’s perfect nap was interrupted by a flock of crows, who began mobbing her and pecking her head. The agitated seal began to retreat across the rocks and suddenly disappeared from view. Dawn climbed up onto the jetty and discovered that the seal had slipped down into a narrow gap in the rocks. The seal was too far down to climb out on her own and was in danger of drowning with the incoming tide. Stranding Technician Emma and Assistant Director Michele were immediately dispatched to the scene. When they arrived, they discovered that the seal had dropped down four feet below the top of the jetty in a narrow shaft. The seal was just out of arm’s reach. Emma attempted to climb down into the hole, but the space was too tight to be able to recover the animal safely. The Ocean City Police Department was dispatched to assist with their catch pole, typically used for dogs. Utilizing a towel to cover the agitated seal’s head, Emma was able to use the pole to shift the seal into a better position. Using the pole to loop and raise the seal’s rear flippers, the team was able to reach her. Emma was able to grab hold of the seal’s rear flippers. With the assistance of Sgt. Swillo, the seal was pulled free of the rocks as Michele and Dawn maneuvered the seal into the net.
The seal was brought back to MMSC for a medical assessment. Despite her ordeal, she thankfully suffered no injuries. It was determined that she was healthy and not in need of medical treatment. The Grey seal was marked #17 on her head with a nontoxic livestock marker that will fade over time. This will help us identify her should she haul out on another beach over the next few weeks. Later Wednesday night, MMSC staff transported the seal to a natural wildlife area where she made her return to the freedom of the ocean. She joined five other seals that were also relocated yesterday.
Thank you to the Ocean City Police Department for your assistance with this rescue.