Rescued Baby Seal Released to Jersey Shore Waters

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A young Grey seal that was rescued from dunes in Ocean City, New Jersey on Valentine's Day has been released back into the wild after spending six weeks recovering from malnutrition at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC). The seal was tagged with both a satellite and acoustic device to monitor its movements and behavior as it returns to the ocean.

Why it matters

Seal rescue and rehabilitation efforts are important for protecting marine wildlife populations along the Jersey Shore. The data collected from the tracking tags will help researchers better understand the post-release behavior and survival rates of rescued seals, informing future conservation efforts.

The details

The Grey seal was between 6 to 8 weeks old when it was initially rescued from the dunes in Ocean City. After six weeks of care and rehabilitation at the MMSC to address malnutrition, the seal was deemed healthy enough to be released back into the wild. In collaboration with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the seal was outfitted with both a satellite tag on its back and an acoustic tag on its rear flipper to track its movements, diving patterns, and haul-out locations over the long-term.

• The seal was rescued from Ocean City dunes on Valentine's Day (February 14, 2026).
• The seal spent six weeks recovering at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
• The seal was released back into the wild in early April 2026.

What’s next

The satellite tag affixed to the seal's back is temporary and will fall off when the seal sheds its coat during its next molt. The acoustic tag on the rear flipper will continue to track the seal's long-term movements as it swims past underwater receivers in the mid and north Atlantic Ocean.