Turtle Journal

The juvenile harp seal found ailing in the Fresh Brook marsh on Tuesday morning, and returned to the marsh after emergency treatment Tuesday evening, died overnight.  When I checked her Wednesday morning, her body had just entered rigor.

Don Lewis Patrols South Wellfleet Marsh

The necropsy performed by the Mammal Stranding Network revealed an impaction of the tail end of the stomach with sand and worms.  The middle of the intestines was impacted with 2.5 feet of sand, and the end of the intestines was obstructed with black, dry, sandy feces … about a foot long.  For some reason, the animal kept eating sand rather than snow.

Another harp seal pup, this one quite healthy and active, turned up in Fresh Brook this morning.  Quite an exceptional year for harp seals in the Land of Ooze.

Healthy Harp Seal Pup off Blackfish Creek

Contrasting with the ailing seal discovered in the Fresh Brook marsh this morning, a very healthy harp seal pup was found playfully flopping about Pleasant Point off Blackfish Creek.

Juvenile Harp Seal

A little less than three feet long, maybe a half foot shorter than the other juvenile, this seal was markedly plumper and fully aware of its surroundings.

Juvenile Harp Seal Profile

Basking on the crunchy snow left over from the weekend blizzard, this fellow was bright eyed and beautiful.  Harp seals are usually rare in Wellfleet Harbor, but this season has brought us quite a gaggle of youngsters to share the winter weather.

Last night’s high tide brought an ailing harp juvenile seal into the Fresh Brook marsh northeast of Doctors Hill.

Harp Seal Pup off Fresh Brook Creek

Seemingly well nourished, this pup was nonetheless unresponsive to my approach.  Blood traces were observed in each location where the seal had moved across the snow covered marsh.  Closer examination revealed no wounds; the blood had exuded from the mouth.  Small amounts of whitish fluid gurgled from the nostrils.

Ailing Pup Seal

Doctor John Kelly of Eastham was gracious enough to evaluate this seal at his animal hospital; he decided that it was not so far gone as to be euthanized.  At the request of the Mammal Stranding Network, he administered 200 milliliters of nutrient solution by stomach tube.  Encountering some initial resistance, Dr. Kelly x-rayed the seal, but found no blockage.

Stranded Harp Seal Pup

After treatment, this harp seal was returned to the salt marsh near where it was spotted this morning.  The original location is frequented by coyotes, foraging at low tides, and the channels in Fresh Brook do not provide easy access back to the bay.  The seal now rests on the banks of Black Duck Creek several hundred yards southwest of the Lieutenant Island Bridge.  We’ll check on her overnight progress in the morning.