Marine mammals might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the bright lights of the big city, but in the Inwood neighborhood of New York City (located at the very top of Manhattan), there has been an exciting visitor — a male harbor seal (Phoca vitulina).
Thanks to rescue and tagging efforts (see if you can spot his tag in the photos below), we actually have a little bit of background on this individual, who the locals have dubbed “Sealy“. He was rescued as a pup in Scarborough, Maine, just south of Portland, in May 2017 by Marine Mammals of Maine and taken to the Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Clinic in Connecticut. When Sealy was deemed healthy, he was released in Rhode Island.
Harbor seals are known to disperse, leaving their natal beaches shortly after weening and traveling distances up to 800 km. They also migrate annually and female harbor seals have been recorded moving over 3,000 km at the end of the breeding season. Since Sealy was first spotted in Inwood during summer 2018, and only recently returned, it is unclear if he is a migrant or resident individual.
If you spot a marine mammal in a city, take a picture and tag us on twitter. But remember, always give marine mammals plenty of space to ensure your safety and the safety of the animal. And if you spot an injured or entangled individual contact the NOAA Stranding Network at 1-866-767-6114.
Do you have a photo or video of an urban species doing something unusual? What about a rare plant or animal that you were surprised to find in a city? If so, let Lindsay know or Tweet at us and you could be featured as a future observation of the week!
All media, including the featured image and video, in this post were taken by Elizabeth Carlen.
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