Seal rescued at Cape Henlopen State Park

Image: MERR Institute

LEWES, Del. – Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation (MERR) responded to a gray seal pup on the bayside of the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park on Tuesday.

We’re told the seal was entangled in gill netting wrapped tightly around its neck. The seal could still breathe, however the netting was cutting deeply into the neck, cutting the skin open.

The staff at Haven Lake Animal Hospital named the young seal Haven. Officials say the seal weighs about 45-50 pounds and is believed to be roughly 2.5 months old. They say Haven showed immediate signs of improvement after the netting was removed, the wound was cleaned, and the seal received life-saving fluids and antibiotics.

Haven was taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in New Jersey early Wednesday morning for rehabilitation.