Reported by WTNH News 8 in New Haven, Connecticut, authorities are closely monitoring a grey seal pup that mysteriously found its way into downtown. This isn’t the first time the young seal has strayed from the shore to explore the city life. Previously spotted outside an oyster bar in the nearby town of Branford, rescuers from the Mystic Aquarium attempted to relocate the pup to a nearby beach. However, the determined seal quickly returned to the streets, this time in New Haven. Rescuers eventually brought the seal back to the aquarium, where he will stay until he’s ready to return to the ocean.
Authorities are puzzled by the unexpected appearance of a loose seal in downtown New Haven on a Sunday afternoon.
**Grey Seals of the North Atlantic**
The grey seal, known scientifically as Halichoerus grypus, inhabits the waters of the North Atlantic. Adult grey seals can grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh nearly 900 pounds. At birth, seal pups measure around 3-3.5 feet and weigh about 30 pounds. These pups are born with thick, cream-colored fur called lanugo, which helps keep them warm until they shed it around three weeks old. The aquarium estimates the pup to be around 5-6 weeks old but underweight at 28 pounds. Caretakers are providing him with fish formula to help him gain strength before teaching him how to hunt.
**Seal Behavior on Land**
Seals are semi-aquatic animals and are known to haul out on land for various reasons, such as resting, giving birth, nursing, molting, and regulating body temperature. While it’s typical for seals to be on land, it’s unusual to find them in urban areas like a city. Normally, grey seals prefer rocky or sandy beaches and haul out for short periods. Seal pups are often left alone by their mothers once they are weaned, and they stay on land to molt and grow their waterproof fur before heading back into the ocean to feed.
**The Seal’s City Adventure**
While seals can cover significant distances in the ocean, it’s rare for them to travel far on land due to their physical limitations. With their short front flippers and limited mobility on land, seals usually move slowly and awkwardly. The seal’s unexpected journey into the city was likely a result of him straying from the water, possibly due to inclement weather or predators. Grey seals are at risk from shark and orca attacks, and there are instances where adult male seals prey on pups. Thankfully, the New Haven police provided protection for the young seal until rescuers intervened. Currently, he is under observation at the aquarium’s animal rescue clinic, receiving care until he’s ready to return to the ocean.
The Grey Seal’s Unplanned Adventure
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