During a New England blizzard, an “engaged” seal set out to explore a Maine town.
Around 1:30 a.m. Monday, the Cape Elizabeth Police Department received an “unusual call” from a public works employee who was clearing roads after the area had received a fresh dusting of snow. The employee reported that he saw something “running” through the neighborhood. The caller shared that it appeared to be a gray seal exploring the city.
After the call, an officer responded to the area where the seal was found on the road near Fort Williams Park “enjoying the silence of a snowy winter night,” according to the Cape Elizabeth Police Department’s Facebook page. The officer was able to capture the seal and bring it back to his home sweet home in the ocean.
On Monday around 1:30 am, the Cape Elizabeth Police Department received an “unusual call” from a public works employee who was clearing roads.
(Cape Elizabeth Police Department)
But the story does not end there.
“We didn’t know it at the time, but this seal was committed to its goal of exploring Cape Elizabeth,” they said.
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At about 7 a.m., police were again notified that the persistent seal was back in town, “possibly following the delicious scent of baked Cookie Jar donuts,” the department joked in its post.
Another officer and resident were able to capture the seal once more, where it was released on the beach.
Cape Elizabeth police and a resident helped the gray seal back into the ocean, but the seal kept returning to shore.
(Cape Elizabeth Police Department)
But the seal still needed to curb its appetite for adventure.
Police were notified for the third and final time that the seal was exploring ashore. About an hour later, the seal was found again exploring Fort Williams Park. The officer and several citizens were able to capture the seal and bring it back to the beach where it was released into the ocean.
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After his third release, the seal “swam around in search of bigger and better adventures.”
In an update shared by the police department, Marine Mammals of Maine collected the baby seal and evaluated it at its rehabilitation center.
The seal pup had an adventure in the snow during New England times and persistently came ashore to the surprise of the local police department.
(Cape Elizabeth Police Department)
The organization said they administered fluids and nutrition and have “a whole new stamp!” An examination indicated that he was “recently weaned from his mother and has unfortunately had difficulties on his account,” Marine Mammals of Maine said.
“After all her adventures over the past 24 hours, she has spent the entire day sleeping and nursing her fins,” Marine Mammals of Maine shared in a Facebook post.
On Tuesday, the rehabilitation center shared that the seal pup was “a lot brighter and a lot less tired.” However, the center shared that the seal was underweight and will need to remain at the center to receive “much-needed nutrition and care” until it is ready to be released.
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Marine Mammals of Maine said the seal will require extensive support to bring it home, but they are committed to helping it thrive.
