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September 21, 2007

Once stranded in Jersey, a seal finds its way in R.I.

NARRAGANSETT -- A female grey seal pup that had been stranded in New Jersey in the spring has been released here at Salty Brine State Beach, the Coast Guard said today.

Coast Guard from Point Judith and stranding center personnel carried the seal in a crate to the beach yesterday. After initially going the wrong way up the beach, the seal turned around, went to the water and swam away. The seal was released at about 6:45 a.m.

The standing happened in the New jersey community Ship Bottom, on Long Beach Island. The seal was rescued and cared for by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, and treated for a respiratory infection caused by sinus mites. The seal weighed 81 pounds when rescued. Yesterday, it weighed in at 140 pounds.

"The seal was set free in Rhode Island because of this species' inquisitive nature," the Coast Guard news release said.

The New Jersey shore is strewn with many fish and lobster traps, and grey seals find it difficult to avoid entanglement, Robert Schoelkopf, the stranding center's director, said in the statement.

"Most people who join the Coast Guard do it to save lives," Senior Chief Petty Officer Chad Curth, of Station Point Judith, said. "Every now and then we get the chance to help save an animal's life -- and that's rewarding too."

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 12:55 PM | Permalink

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