CAPE HENLOPEN, Delaware (WPVI) — It has been a busy start to “seal season” at the Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation (MERR) Institute in Lewes, Delaware.
The organization said it has responded to a flurry of young seal pups in the last few days, many of which are still cloaked in the fluffy white coat they have while they are nursing.
According to MERR, seal pupping in Delaware is a fairly recent occurrence, and may be the result of the developing seal colony off of Lewes.
“The cause may be linked to the flood tides during the past week, which could have washed the pups off of the rocks and into the bay and ocean,” said MERR Executive Director Suzanne Thurman.
The most recent rescue happened on Saturday at Cape Henlopen State Park.
The young female gray seal was a dependent pup and was brought in for triage and assessment, MERR said. She was transported to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for further rehabilitation and, …