Seal Pup Rescued After Strolling Down Ocean City's Streets

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A Gray seal pup is now in the safe hands of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center after he took a stroll down the streets of Ocean City.

The male pup, only about four-to-six weeks old, was reported to the stranding center just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday. He was first found by residents after hauling out from the bay at West Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets, the stranding center said on social media.

"The seal moved through a backyard to the sidewalk, then began traveling in the middle of 42nd street where witnesses reported he had a close call with a car," the center said.

See photos and video of the seal's journey here.

An Ocean City police officer blocked traffic "as the determined seal continued down the road, crossing multiple intersections," according to the center.

The young seal traveled more than a quarter of a mile in about 20 minutes, heading towards the ocean.

When the seal had made it within a hundred yards of the beach ramp, the stranding center managed to capture him.

He was exhausted from his "unusual journey" and quite underweight, so he was immediately taken to the stranding center in Brigantine.

The seal weighed 28.8 pounds and was fed a mixture of formula and electrolyte solution for hydration via tube in the ICU. As of this morning, the center's newest patient was "resting comfortably," they said.

"This is the second seal this season that we have rescued from a roadway, and a good reminder to be careful driving in our shore communities, especially during coastal flood advisories as you never know what you may come across," the center said. "Many people have asked about this unusual behavior. We have had MANY cases over the past 46 years of seals, especially Grey seals, taking a wrong turn and wandering up beach access paths to backyards, parking lots, and roadways."

Each season, the center sees at least one seal in an unusual situation like this one. "These pups are born on islands, so when they get lost, their instinct is to keep wandering until they find a body of water. Please have our 24-hour stranding hotline ready, because you might need it when you least expect it! (609) 266-0538," the center said.

This is their second seal of the season rescued from a roadway. The first was in Point Pleasant Beach in January. Read more: Seal Pup Rescued From Road In Point Pleasant Beach

The center also recently rescued a harbor seal after likely suffering a shark bite. Read more: Injured Young Seal Has 'Healthy Appetite' After Jersey Shore Rescue