OCEAN CITY, NJ—On March 13th, a juvenile female Grey seal found herself in a precarious situation after resting on a jetty at 5th Street and the Boardwalk in Ocean City. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) was alerted and dispatched a local certified Stranding Volunteer to assess and monitor the seal, who was in good health and resting mid-jetty.
However, a flock of crows disrupted the seal’s peaceful rest, leading her to slip into a narrow gap in the jetty rocks and trapping her four feet below the surface. The MMSC’s Stranding Technician Emma and Assistant Director Michele, along with the Ocean City Police Department, coordinated a rescue operation. They successfully extracted the seal using a catch pole and a towel to calm her.
After a medical evaluation at MMSC confirmed the seal was uninjured and healthy, she was marked with a non-toxic #17 on her head for future identification. The seal was then released back into the ocean at a natural wildlife area alongside five other seals. This incident highlights the challenges and successful rescues performed by wildlife conservation teams.