Sleepy Seal Shuts Down LBI Street

Marine Mammal Stranding Center rescues napping grey seal pup from Long Beach Boulevard

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A young grey seal pup was found napping in the middle of Long Beach Boulevard in Harvey Cedars, New Jersey, causing the police to shut down the street. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center was called to the scene and safely transported the seal back to their facility in Brigantine for medical evaluation.

Why it matters

Seal sightings on Long Beach Island are not uncommon, but it's rare for one to wander so far from the beach and settle down for a nap in the middle of a residential street. This incident highlights the important work the Marine Mammal Stranding Center does in rescuing and caring for distressed or displaced marine animals along the New Jersey coast.

The details

The grey seal pup was spotted crawling along Long Beach Boulevard and then settling down for a nap in the middle of Middlesex Avenue in Harvey Cedars. The Harvey Cedars Police Department blocked off the street to protect the seal, and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center's stranding team arrived to safely collect the pup and transport it back to their facility in Brigantine. While the seal had no apparent injuries, it was in thin overall body condition and is currently resting and being evaluated at the center.

  • On Tuesday, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center received a call about the seal on Long Beach Boulevard.
  • The seal was found napping in the middle of Middlesex Avenue in Harvey Cedars.

The players

Marine Mammal Stranding Center

A non-profit organization based in Brigantine, New Jersey that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases stranded or injured marine mammals along the state's coastline.

Harvey Cedars Police Department

The local police department that responded to the call about the seal on Long Beach Boulevard and blocked off the street to protect the animal.

Grey Seal Pup

A young grey seal that wandered away from the beach, crawled onto Long Beach Boulevard, and settled down for a nap in the middle of the street.

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What’s next

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center will continue to monitor the grey seal pup's condition and provide any necessary medical treatment before eventually releasing it back into the wild.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the important role organizations like the Marine Mammal Stranding Center play in protecting and caring for marine wildlife, even in unexpected situations like a seal napping in the middle of a residential street.