Seal rescued
Published: February 3, 2006
Two harp seals were found washed up on Long Island beaches yesterday, signaling the beginning of what marine biologists said is a typically rough time for seals entering local waters.
A female seal found at 7:30 a.m. yesterday about 40 feet from the water at Point Lookout was underweight and dehydrated, said Kim Durham, a biologist and director of the rescue program at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. The mammal, weighing 40 pounds, is estimated to be between 12 and 16 months old.
Veterinarians are running tests on the seal, Durham said, noting that the animal is most likely going through her annual molting process. During this time, the seals, which have traveled down from Canadian waters, do not eat very much. “It can be a very traumatic experience,” Durham said.
The nonprofit foundation will keep a close eye on the rescued seal and hopes to increase her weight another 20 pounds before releasing her back into the ocean in two to three weeks, Durham said.
Another harp seal was found on Southampton beach, Durham said. That seal, which was not moved, is being monitored to see if it returns to the water.
Durham said seals have sharp teeth and can harbor disease, and urged those who find seals washed ashore not to touch them.
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