THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602290279
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
A sick hooded seal, far from its home in the Arctic Ocean, came ashore near 44th Street Tuesday night, thin, weak and shivering.
The seal, a young male, is being cared for by volunteers of the Virginia Marine Science Museum stranding team at the museum's off-site holding warehouse. After a week of observation and rehabilitation, it may be transferred to the National Aquarium in Baltimore or to another facility.
Unlike harbor seals, which periodically visit here, hooded seals rarely venture this far south. They typically are found around Greenland and Iceland.
Museum officials said the fate of this seal follows a pattern found in nature.
``The first year is the hardest for a seal,'' said Susan Barco, a marine biologist and a lead researcher for the stranding team. ``A lot of seals die in the first year after mom leaves.''
Barco explained that baby seals get little parental guidance.
``They hang out on the beach sucking milk from mom for a few weeks, then, wham, you're out on your own kid,'' she said. ``If they have good genes, and hunting skills and navigation skills, they can make it.''
This is Virginia Beach's first hooded seal. In recent years, hooded seals have sporadically been reported along the Atlantic coast here in the United States as well as in Europe.
The seal had been swimming in the water off the resort beaches for the past week, oceanfront residents said. When it came ashore Tuesday night, residents called the stranding team.
While it is normal behavior for a seal to emerge from the water to rest, it was immediately obvious that this seal was sick. Instead of the usual football shape that a healthy seal has, this seal is shaped more narrow like a torpedo. It was also shivering. And it didn't bolt when approached.
``We are compelled to take care of them because they're awfully cute, and they're on the beach and not feeling well,'' Barco said.
At the museum's warehouse holding facility, blood samples were taken which indicated the seal has some type of infection. Under the direction of veterinarian Dr. Gwynne Kinley, the seal has begun rehabilitation with antibiotics, fluids and vitamins. Volunteers are also attempting to feed him fish and ice.
The seal is about 1 year old and weighs about 65 pounds. Although underweight, preliminary veterinary examinations conclude he's in stable condition.
Despite his sickly condition, this seal has shown signs of being aggressive, snapping out at his caregivers.
``They're not as cute as they look when you've got to mess with them,'' Barco said. ``They all have the ability to bite and they all should be left alone.''
Hooded seals are twice the size of harbor seals more commonly seen here. Male hooded seals reach lengths of about 8 feet and weights between 700 and 900 pounds.
In the adult male hooded seal, the nasal cavity is enlarged to form the inflatable hood which distinguishes the species. The hood inflates to about twice the size of a soccer ball and is used in shows of dominance during mating.
The Virginia Marine Science Museum Stranding Team responds to calls about stranded marine animals including sea turtles, dolphins, whales and seals. If you find a stranded marine animal, call the stranding hotline at 437-4961. ILLUSTRATION: DEBBIE MESSINA
Virginia Marine Science Museum stranding team volunteers are
nursing a sick hooded seal who was thin and shivering when it came
ashore near 44th Street Tuesday night.
by CNB