Seal Found Near Traffic Circle Climbed Ladder Out Of River: Experts

RIVERSIDE, NY — A seal found Sunday near the Riverside traffic circle is in good health after his adventure, officials said.

According to Southampton Town Police, at 6:31 a.m., dispatchers received a 911 call about the seal, seen off Woodhull Road in the Thrifty Beverage parking lot. Patrol officers responded and the seal then headed southwest in the direction of the Budget Host Inn, police said.

Officers surrounded the seal, which was identified as a juvenile harbor seal, officials said.

The seal is being evaluated and cared for by the New York Marine Rescue Center in Riverhead and will be released at a future date, police said.

According to the NYMRC, the gray seal wandered near the traffic circle.

"No, this wasn't a late April's Fools prank — rather a young male seal that made his way toward the circle after climbing a fish ladder out of the Peconic River where he was likely foraging on fish," the NYMRC said.

Gray seals are known to be explorers and often investigate the environment around them; even traversing several miles at a time, the NYMRC said. The NYMRC has previously responded to seals traveling far distances from the water, so the case was not abnormal, the organization said.

"In fact, earlier this year NYMRC rescued another male gray seal that wandered far from the ocean into a wooded area," the NYMRC said.

NYMRC biologists rescued the young seal from the traffic circle and brought him back to the hospital. An initial physical showed the animal to be in good health. Seals, such as the male gray seal, are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and if one is found, people must maintain a 150-foot distance, the NYMRC said.

If you see a sick or injured seal, report the animal to the NYMRC's 24-hour stranding hotline at 631-369-9829.