STRATHMERE, N.J. — A young grey seal pup found resting at the base of the dunes in Strathmere has become the first rescued grey seal of the season, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC).
The male pup was discovered on the evening of January 31 and was immediately transported to the center by MMSC’s Stranding Coordinator. Staff estimated the pup to be about 3-4 weeks old, as he still had approximately 80% of his white birthing coat, known as lanugo. His intake weight was recorded at 31 pounds—below his birth weight—suggesting he struggled to learn how to feed independently after weaning.
Grey seal pups nurse for about two weeks before becoming fully independent. They typically triple their birth weight by the time they are weaned, relying on their fat reserves as they learn to hunt for fish. MMSC staff believe this pup did not successfully transition to independent feeding and lost weight after making the long swim from northern pupping grounds in New England and Canada to the New Jersey coast.
Upon arrival at the center, the pup was placed in the Intensive Care Unit, where staff provided supportive care, including tube feeding with formula and electrolytes to rehydrate him. Over the weekend, he began eating on his own after initially shredding a few fish. Most of his white lanugo has since shed, revealing his darker juvenile coat.
The seal will remain at MMSC until he has gained enough weight and recovered before being released back into the wild. Photos by MMSC.