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Whale Center Staff Rescues a Harp Seal
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Tuesday, February 6 dawned bright after a severe overnight storm with wind, rain, and snow. Seas had been running ten feet or more, not the kind of conditions in which a one year old harp seal would want to be. In order to escape being battered, this young seal found a nice tidal estuary in Gloucester, MA. It followed the stream, past Good Harbor Beach, until it could haul out and rest far from the rough waves. and far from any open water.
 At the Whale Center of New England, we got a report of the harp seal in a tidal marsh. Upon arrival, we found a healthy, alert seal that appeared to be in good condition - perhaps just a little tired. We were concerned that it might not be able to find its way back to open water, but wanted to give the animal the benefit of the doubt. We left it for the night.
 When we arrived the next morning to check on it, we found it crossing a nearby road, and settling in the side yard, behind the shrub, of a nearby resident. Now this seal, who was still healthy and alert, was a long way from any water and was clearly lost. If a seal stays in such an area for too long, it will become very stressed, eventually get ill, and may die. We knew it was time to relocate the lost pup.
 Our crew arrived with a large dog kennel that we use to capture and hold seals while we move them. The strategy used to capture a seal varies by species. Harp seals are often docile; if you throw a blanket over their head, they often freeze momentarily. When we tried that technique, we found out just how healthy the seal was - he immediately shook off the blanket and ran out, trying to bite anything in range. We then used a safer technique for more aggressive seals, called "crowding" - gently using a series of boards to herd the animal into the crate. We did, and slammed the cage door shut behind it.
 When we got the seal back to Good Harbor Beach, it did the rest itself. Standing behind the kennel, we lifted the door. The seal hesitated for a moment - it stuck its head out and looked around - and then immediately quickly headed in a straight line for the waves. Without so much as a look back, it headed off to continue what we hope will be a long and healthy life.
 Harp seals are usually found on the arctic ice in Newfoundland and Greenland. Hooded seals, another ice-dwelling species, can also be found in New England waters during the winter as well. During the winter, young animals often travel long distances to escape the harsh winter conditions where they were born.
After traveling so far, many are tired and need to rest; some become ill and never get to make the trip back. However, if you find a seal on a beach or rocky shoreline, do not attempt to move it or feed it. Most of the time they are fine, and require no help. If you feel a seal is in need of immediate help, contact local experts, such as staff of the Whale Center or the New England Aquarium.
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