Marine group Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation rescued an ailing gray seal pup from a beach in New York.
The 1-month-old marine animal was found lying on the shore, underfed and lethargic.
"Yesterday we admitted a gray seal pup that was found on the beach in Westhampton," the foundation writes.
Seal Pup Rescue
The seal pup was first seen on Monday, behind the Quantuck Beach Club. The animal was still covered with fine, soft hair from its birth.
On Tuesday, a biologist and two interns from the foundation came back to see how the pup was doing. They deemed the animal underweight and weak thus, they decided to bring it to the foundation's hospital facility at the Riverhead Long Island Aquarium.
Riverhead spokesperson Rachel Bosworth says the staff at the facility will monitor the pup's condition, assess blood levels and ensure adequate hydration. She adds that the staff will do something about the pup's weight.
Gray seal pups nurse for about 17-18 days, after which, it can begin to look after itself. The animals can also feed by itself in the ocean approximately one to four weeks after weaning or introducing adult diet.
Unusual Discovery
Although there are some populations noted in the area, very young pups are usually seen up north as this is where most species are born.
With this, the presence of the gray seal pup in the area is quite interesting for biologists, who are sure to think about how the ailing pup arrived at the New York waters.
Other Seal Pup Sightings
Last month, another pup was seen at the Ponquogue Beach, which is also at Hampton Bays, New York. Bosworth says there were several sightings of seal pups in Southampton, Westhampton Beach and Montauk. All the pups seem to be in good condition.
The foundation has not been able to determine if the ailing seal pup recently rescued was part of that group.
Public Advice
Gray seal pups are federally protected. Bosworth advises people to keep a distance of at least 150 feet from the animals as human interaction may be hazardous.
Gray seal pups usually love to haul out onto the beach. The species are typically found basking in the sun or staying behind rocks. The most common locations where gray seal pups haul out include Plum Island, Montauk and Little Gull Island.
