Harp seal photo by michael mckenna — Harp Seal Photo by Michael McKenna

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — A young harp seal stranded on a Monmouth County beach has been rescued and is receiving treatment at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC), officials said.

The seal was first reported on February 19 after remaining in the same spot on the beach for over 24 hours. A certified Stranding Volunteer was dispatched to assess the situation while MMSC’s Stranding Coordinator responded from Brigantine.

Harp seals, known for their Arctic origins, occasionally strand along New Jersey’s coast in winter. Experts say they sometimes ingest sand and rocks, mistaking them for snow, which can lead to dangerous gastric impactions. Rescuers observed sand inside the seal’s mouth, a sign of substrate consumption.

The animal was transported to MMSC, where staff began tube feeding, hydration therapy, and treatment with fluids and mineral oil to clear the sand from its system. Upon intake, the seal weighed 59.6 pounds and has since begun eating fish on its own. Officials say the seal is now resting comfortably in rehabilitation.

MMSC urges the public to report stranded seals by calling their 24-hour hotline at (609) 266-0538 so trained personnel can assess the animal’s condition.

A stranded harp seal mistook sand for snow, but thanks to quick action from rescuers, it is now recovering at a marine mammal hospital.

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