The National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay, Thursday night, released six rehabilitated harbor seal pups back into the wild. The event marked the largest seal release to date by the N-M-L-C.
All six pups were rescued because each had been separated from their mothers, which can happen for a number of reasons. One of those reasons is human inter-action. Harbor seals will leave their pups on the beach while they go offshore to feed. If they return and see humans too close to the pup, it could scare them off permenantly.
N-M-L-C’s president and executive director, Kathy Zagzebski says it is important for people to stay at least 150 feet away from any beached seal or call their local stranding organization or police if the animal appears sick or injured.