by Lost in Maine

Created on: November 26, 2008   Last Updated: November 27, 2008

Typical day responding to a seal stranding

Still covered in the unmistakable stench of seal poop and cleaning agents from the rehabilitation facility, the phone rang as I walked through the door. I was about to get into the shower, but I knew I better answer the call. There was a seal pup that hauled out on one of the local beaches. The strandings coordinator indicated that she received several calls about the pup in the last hour and from what she can tell there are a number of people on the beach. All she could tell me is that the pup was not moving and the people on the beach were concerned that the pup was "sick".

I quickly changed clothes and grabbed my gear on the way out of the house. My trusty GPS took me right to the main parking area of the beach. That was the easy part. Often the caller indicates what beach, but is unable to give an accurate location on the beach. This particular day was no different, as this beach was about a mile long stretch along the Maine coast.

As I stepped out of the vehicle, I grabbed my first response backpack and binoculars and headed to the highest spot on the beach. It didn't talk long to see several people gathered on the far end of the beach around the bend. As I made my way on a narrow trail through the marsh, the shortest route to the people, I came across an older woman. She asked if I was here for the seal and I told her that I was here to help. She was glad to see me, as she was just on her way home to get some seafood salad to feed the seal. I assured her that the seal did not need to have anything to eat right now. I asked her to lead me to the location were the seal was. Upon arriving at the scene, there were people crowded around the seal. I proceeded to identify myself as a volunteer for the strandings program and asked that everyone step back at least 100 feet from the animal so I could assess the animal.

I completed my initial visual assessment from a distance; noting that the pup seemed to be experiencing some labored breathing, the seals posture was that of a limp seal, and there were no external signs of trauma. Upon clapping my hands a couple times, the seal was unresponsive, so I moved in close for the secondary visual assessment. Within 3 feet of the seal, I circled the seal and took several photos of the location, proximity to the waterline/high-tide line and of the animal. It was not until I came within a foot of the animal that the animal showed any awareness to my presence. The seal opened its eyes,

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