A gray female seal pup with a few deep wounds on its back side and fore flippers and suffering from dehydration was rescued Tuesday after being discovered Monday on Lewis Walk in Cherry Grove, according to the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation.
The pup measures just under three feet in length and weighs approximately 35 pounds.
"She was originally reported on Monday to our program. Due to her reported condition on Monday our team left her for monitoring as it had to respond to juvenile harp seal reported in the Rockaways. Her initial physical examination revealed an injury to her left side. She is also underweight and suffering from dehydration," said Kimberly Durham, rescue program director, told Patch.
Gray seals are often found in local waters during January and February, according to Durham.
"Our survey team reported large numbers of gray seals hauled out on Gull island last week," said Durham. When a seal is found teams are dispatched and animals are assessed, she added.
The seal is now recovering at the group's rehabilitation facility, based at the Long Island Aquarium, along with 20 sea turtles, one harbor porpoise and four other seal patients receiving care.
Residents who spot an injured marine mammal or sea turtle is asked to call the group's hotline at 631-369-9829.
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