Arctic Seal Found In Nearby River Rehabilitating At Mystic Aquarium

MYSTIC, CT — A young hooded seal typically found in the icy waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic was rescued from the Providence River last weekend, according to a statement from Mystic Aquarium.

The one-year-old female seal had been monitored by Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program since being reported in Watch Hill on Aug. 29.

After being spotted multiple times in Westerly and Providence, the seal was finally rescued and brought to Mystic Aquarium for medical evaluation and rehabilitation.

The seal was attracting attention from onlookers after being seen along the banks of the Providence River on Friday.

"Despite warnings to keep a distance, people approached and attempted to interact with the seal, stressing this already vulnerable animal," according to an aquarium statement. "The harassment and attempt by people to interact with the wild animal caused the seal to exhibit stress-related behaviors, such as ingesting rocks and gravel, which were later confirmed by radiographs conducted at the aquarium."

Mystic Aquarium’s veterinary team discovered that the seal was severely dehydrated, underweight, and suffering from a belly full of rocks and gravel.

"This is an arctic species, not adapted to the heat and human interaction here in New England,” Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program Manager Sarah Callan said in a statement. “The seal has started to pass some gravel naturally, but surgery may be necessary if the rocks cannot be expelled on their own."

The animal weighed about 30 pounds less than the expected weight for a seal of her age, which typically ranges around 100 pounds.

Mystic Aquarium's rescue team is now focused on rehydrating and stabilizing her condition, ensuring she gains the necessary weight for eventual release, according to the aquarium's statement.

Hooded seals, known for their distinctive inflatable nasal sacs, are a rare sight in southern New England. The last reported hooded seal rescue in the area occurred nearly a decade ago in 2013.