
The marine education, research, and rehabilitation institute successfully rescued a stranded harp seal at Cape Henlopen State Park. The seal – identified as a one-year-old female – exhibited a few minor injuries and was found to be underweight but alert. This is one of multiple seal rescues this year.

Last week – a seal entangled in gill netting was saved from the park – and a few baby seals were rescued at the beginning of February. The MERR Institute attributes the uptick in rescues to high tides and the presence of a seal colony offshore. The rescuers decided to name the spirited young seal “Snapdragon”. Snapdragon was taken to the National Aquarium Triage Center in Ocean City for care.