Plastic Entangled Baby Seal Rescued On Long Beach Island

BEACH HAVEN, NJ — A baby seal entangled in plastic was recently rescued from a Jersey Shore beach, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

The center got an urgent call for an entangled seal in Beach Haven on Feb. 15 at 4:30 p.m., officials said.

The Grey seal pup, a female, had plastic overwrap from a case of bottled water tangled around her neck.

She was quickly taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, where the plastic was removed, officials said.

"Fortunately, the plastic had not yet started to cut into the seal's neck," center workers said.

However, the seal's body was thin, she was lethargic and suffering from gastrointestinal issues, the center said.

The center's veterinarian performed a full medical examination and blood panels were submitted to check for any underlying issues.

In the meantime, the young seal was given care via tube feeding and now rests comfortably in Pen 2 at the center.

Center officials are again reminding the public that the annual Grey seal pup migration is in full swing at the Jersey Shore, and many of these young seals are now making the long swim from their birthing grounds in New England and Canadian waters to New Jersey.

"Along the way these recently weaned pups are learning to hunt for their food on their own and evade predators," the center said. "By the time they reach our beaches, they need their rest, and some pups who have not fared as well as the others on their journey, need MMSC's help."