Hoboken NJ Gets Cute Visitor: A Social Distancing Seal! (VIDEO)

HOBOKEN, NJ — A seal was spotted sunning itself on Thursday and Friday on the north waterfront of Hoboken, in a sandy area directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

Experts say that recent changes in the environment, due to people staying inside amid coronavirus, may have been buoying nature and encouraging animals to return to their natural habitats.

Hoboken Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, who could see the seal from her window, posted Thursday that she had spoken with the New Jersey Marine Mammal Stranding Center. She said they told her that "She’s a grey seal pup, couple months old, probably migrated from north/New Hampshire and probably just resting. Touching is illegal as she is protected and will bite. Hoboken Police were made aware."

Fisher later filmed the seal swimming away, but then spotted her again enjoying the sun on Friday morning.

"This morning one of Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps EMT’s said we should name her Cesealia," she wrote.

That area of Hoboken was formerly home to ship repair facilities, and now hosts public piers and residential development.

Sheila Dean, a founder of the Marine Mammal center, posted on Fisher's Facebook page, "Hi Tiffanie. I am the co-founder of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center and I want to thank you for all your help and concern. This little grey seal has certainly drawn a lot of attention, and we hope that she will spend only a short time before heading back up north to the grey seal colonies. We don't often get calls for seal in [the area], but have had a few over the years. Let us know if anything changes. We appreciate your help!"

The center also responded to a seal sighting in Bayonne last week, also in Hudson County.

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