New Jersey police help get baby seal back to safety after it took ‘wrong turn’
A baby seal that was found crossing a highway by New Jersey police officers has been released back into the wild.
The grey seal pup was spotted by Brick Township police as it was trying to cross a highway on Monday. Authorities quickly stopped traffic to allow the displaced animal to cross the road.
“Silly seal alert! Earlier this evening officers found a seal trying to cross Rt. 35 in Brick,” the Brick Township Police Department wrote on Facebook. “Officers were able to stop traffic and safely allow [her] to cross the highway.”
The seal then entered a backyard, where she was watched until a stranding technician arrived.
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The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, the rescue organization involved in the pup’s care, said she had no signs of illness or injury.
With no need for rehabilitation, the 63-pound seal was released back into the wild on Tuesday.
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The organization said that it’s not unusual for seals to “take a wrong turn” and end up near a roadway.
“Many people have asked about this unusual behavior. We have had MANY cases over the past 45 years of seals, especially Grey seals, taking a wrong turn and wandering up beach access paths to backyards, parking lots, and roadways,” the Marine Mammal Stranding Center wrote on Facebook.
“Typically we see at least one case of a wayward pup stranding in an unusual location every seal season. These pups are born on islands, so when they get lost, their instinct is to keep wandering until they find a body of water,” the rescue organization explained.
