Rope-Entangled Seal Pup Rescued From Island Beach State Park

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, NJ — A young seal entangled in rope was rescued from Island Beach State Park by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC).

The male Grey seal pup was saved on Friday after an urgent call into the center, workers shared on a Facebook post.

A length of polypropylene line (a type of rope that floats on water and is used in fishing/boating operations) was embedded into the seal's neck and tied at the end in a knot, center officials said.

The MMSC veterinarian was waiting and successfully removed the line from the seal within minutes of his arrival.

The line left a wound that was one inch deep, running approximately 15cm across the back of his neck, but fortunately had not yet cut into the underside of his neck, the center said.

His wound was cleaned and treated, and the seal has been started on medication to prevent infection and keep him comfortable as he heals.

Entangled seals are not uncommon - the day after this seal's rescue, MMSC rescued a seal with a similar polypropylene rope tied around his neck from a beach in Long Branch. Thankfully, the loop was not very tight there, and he was uninjured, according to MMSC. That seal was released back into the wild after a checkup, and was the fourth seal they've rescued so far this season that was entangled.