Seal pup released back into the wild

Earlier this week, World Vets released a rehabilitated harbor seal pup back into her home waters on the Washington coast

The story started back on Memorial Day weekend when the pup was being harassed by beachgoers on the Washington Coast. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife made the initial response and had volunteers monitor the pup on the beach for over 48 hours to give her space and keep people away in hopes that the mom would return. Unfortunately the pup was too young to survive on her own and the mom did not return. The dehydrated pup was picked up by WDFW and referred to World Vets Marine Mammal Urgent Care Center in Gig Harbor, Washington where she was provided emergency care and stabilization by our veterinary staff.

 

Once she was stable, World Vets transported here to our network partners at Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center where she received excellent care and rehabilitation until she was old enough to survive on her own. After a total of 82 days of care, World Vets transported her back to her home waters where she was released near Damon Point in Ocean Shores, Washington.  This was one of two pups we released this week.  Stayed tuned for the success story on the other pup!

 

This story has a happy ending but comes with a reminder to please remember to stay back 100 yards from marine mammals. It’s normal for pups to rest on the beach but when there is human interaction the moms often won’t come back and these nursing pups can’t survive on their own. If you see an injured, sick or stranded marine mammal, please do not approach it. Report strandings to the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 1-866-767-6114. World Vets is an authorized partner of the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network and regularly provides beach responses, boat responses, urgent care, hospitalization, technical response and veterinary support for marine mammals cases throughout the state.