Seal Pup Found On Point Pleasant Beach Sidewalk 'Improving': Video

BRIGANTINE, NJ — A female grey seal pup rescued from Point Pleasant Beach is starting to show signs of improvement, according to staff at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said.

The grey seal pup was found on the sidewalk on Baltimore Avenue late on the evening of Jan. 12, and was estimated at that time to be about four weeks old. She has been in the care of the center ever since.

On Wednesday morning, the center's staff posted a video (see it at the bottom of this article) showing the young seal in the water in a supervised tank at its intensive care unit, showing her mouthing a fish.

"She is a little more active and alert than when she was first admitted, and is able to enjoy more supervised swim time throughout the day," the update said. "The seal is not yet eating on her own, but as you can see in this video, she is starting to show interest in food. She has started mouthing and tearing apart fish in the water, which is a normal behavior as pups begin learning to forage on their own."

She is assist-fed 2.5 pounds of fish each day but the center was able to discontinue supplemental formula "as her hydration levels are back to normal," the update said.

The center's staff believes the seal "had likely breached the flooded bulkhead at Lake Louise during the coastal storm," and made her way to the middle of the road. Read more: Seal Pup Rescued From Road In Point Pleasant Beach

There was no estimate of when the seal pup would be able to be released back into the wild.

"There are many steps to the rehabilitation process and each animal progresses through those steps at a different pace," the center said. "Some seals may only be here for a month, others may take much longer before they are healthy enough to return to the wild. Only time will tell."

"We want to thank all of our followers who have been rooting for this little one and cheering her on during her recovery!" the staff said.

The center also is welcoming donations to support the costs of caring for injured and ill animals that come to the center for care. Donation information is on the Marine Mammal Stranding Center website.

The center also is reminding people to keep themselves and their pets at least 150 feet away from any seals they see on the beach, to avoid causing stress to the animals.

"Seals must rest on land to regain their energy after long bouts of swimming and diving as they hunt for fish to eat, and they know when to return to the water on their own," the center said.

"Approaching or forcing seals into the water causes stress and may lead to injury. Sick, injured or exhausted seals can even drown! Please give the seals a break this winter and let them rest undisturbed."

If you see a seal, call the center's 24-hour hotline at 609-266-0538 to report sightings.