'Her cries alerted bystanders': Seal saved from possible death at NJ beach, officials say
NEW JERSEY (PIX11) -- A seal was rescued earlier this week at the Jersey Shore, authorities said.
The 65-pound female seal was stuck between two rocks at a jetty at the Allenhurst Fishing Pier. She was 4 feet below the surface when police and the Liberty Landing Marine Center were called to rescue her.
Officials said the seal would have drowned when the tide came in.
“The seal undoubtedly had been climbing onto the jetty to get some much-needed rest, and had slipped between a gap in the rocks,” a Facebook post from the Marine Stranding Center said. “The female grey seal was trapped more than four feet below the top of the jetty, wedged with her body nearly folded in half on her side. Fortunately, her cries alerted bystanders who immediately called MMSC’s hotline.”
Rescuers said the seal was large and aggressive. They said the seal was ready to deliver a bite to rescuers. Rescue efforts were one of the most challenging of their career.
The seal was monitored overnight for health problems and then released back into the wild.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.