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Animals Up-Close

Encounters with the animals that call Mystic Aquarium home

Animals Up-Close: Learn More

Since 1975, Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program (ARP) has been rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing sick, injured and stranded marine animals along 1,000 miles of the Northeastern coastline throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island and Fishers Island, New York. As a founding member of the Greater Atlantic Region Stranding Network, the ARP also learns more about why these stranded animals came to shore. Working closely with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, which is the ARP’s permitting office, and other government agencies, the Animal Rescue Team responds to an average of 150 hotline calls each year while also providing support to other stranding facilities in New England and even as far as California and Bermuda!

One of the activities that Mystic Aquarium and the other stranding network partners participate in is conducting necropsies on marine mammals that strand to try to determine cause of death. In 2017, NOAA declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for three species of whales. The most common causes of deaths identified is ship strikes and entanglement. Many citizens are concerned that offshore wind energy projects might be contributing to the mortalities. To respond to these questions, NOAA has established an FAQ document that is updated regularly.

All our 2023 first responder training classes are currently full. To be added to the fall 2024 class waitlist, or if you have any questions, please email volunteer@mysticaquarium.org.

All marine mammals (dead or alive) are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. This prohibits the hunting, harassing, capturing or killing of any marine mammal.

IF YOU SEE A DEAD OR ALIVE MARINE MAMMAL OR SEA TURTLE:
  • Leave a message on the Mystic Aquarium’s 24-hour hotline 860.572.5955 x107 and expect a return call
  • Give the animal plenty of space, keeping people and pets at least 150 feet away (it’s the law!)
  • For the animal’s safety and your own, do not touch, feed or attempt to help in any way
  • If the animal appears to be dead, keep your distance – some zoonotic diseases are harmful to humans and can be transferred to pets

A majority of patients admitted to the ARP are seals including those commonly found in New England like harbor, gray, harp and occasionally hooded. Some of the animals admitted to the Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Clinic are rescued by our team from within our coverage area; however, the majority are transferred from other stranding facilities.

On average, most seals remain in the care of the ARP for about two to four months receiving specialized care from a team of animal care professionals including veterinarians as well as dedicated volunteers and interns. In the week leading up to a potential seal’s release back to its ocean habitat, the animal goes through a series of “tests” – both biological and physical – to ensure it is in good health. Once deemed releasable, efforts are coordinated with local government agencies for release; which generally take place off the Rhode Island coastline.

While not every report ends with a healthy animal returning to sea, each case contributes to our understanding of the overall health of these animals and their ocean home.

2024 Seal Releases

Jeffrey Morgan - SYHg2401

Stranding Location: Noank, CT

Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Male

Age at stranding: Approximately 5 weeks old

Stranding Details: Malnourishment

Released: March 7, 2024

Scarlet - SSC-23-115Pv

Stranding Location: Northern Massachusetts

Stranding Facility: Seacoast Science Center

Species: Harbor seal

Sex: Female

Age at stranding: Approximately 6 months

Stranding Details: Mouth wounds, malnourishment, dehydration

Released: February 16, 2024

Shamrock - SSC-23-116Pv

Stranding Location: Essex, MA

Stranding Facility: Seacoast Science Center

Species: Harbor seal

Sex: Female

Age at stranding: 6-7 months

Stranding Details: Severe wound, malnourishment, dehydration

Released: March 22, 2024

Nugget - SYPg2404

Stranding Location: Westerly, RI

Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium

Species: Harp seal

Sex: Male

Age at stranding: Approximately 1 year old

Stranding Details: Lethargic, malnourishment, dehydration

Released: March 22, 2024

2023 Seal Releases

Kiwi - MMAN23-011

Stranding Location: Nantucket, MA

Stranding Facility: Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Female

Age at stranding: Approximately 5 weeks old

Stranding Details: Malnourishment and pneumonia

Released: March 16, 2023

Kumquat - SSC-23-012Hg

Stranding Location: Gloucester, MA

Stranding Facility: Seacoast Science Center, New Hampshire

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Male

Age at stranding: Approximately 2 months

Stranding Details: Thin…

Released: May 9, 2023

Northlands - SYHg2313

Stranding Location: Bermuda

Stranding Facility: Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Male

Age at stranding: Approximately 2 months

Stranding Details: This gray seal pup was found on Clearwater Beach, Bermuda, U.K. on February 18, 2023. Since gray seals don’t inhabit Bermuda, he was malnourished and dehydrated. He was transported to Mystic Aquarium for rehab on March 20, 2023 by plane and received nutritional support and veterinary care. He doubled his weight during his time here!  

Released: April 11, 2023

Mulberry - SXPg2314

Stranding Location: Niantic, CT

Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium

Species: Harp seal

Sex: Female

Age at stranding: Approximately 1 year

Stranding Details: Ingesting sand and shells

Released: April 24, 2023

Coasty - SXHg2315

Stranding Location: Block Island, RI

Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Female

Age at stranding: Approximately 1 year

Stranding Details: Thin, minimally responsive, ….

Released: May 16, 2023

Habanero - SYHg2317

Stranding Location: Block Island, RI

Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Male

Age at stranding: Approximately 3 months

Stranding Details: Entanglement

Released: April 24, 2023

Clementine - SXHg2327

Stranding Location: Westerly, RI

Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Female

Age at stranding: Approximately 4 months

Stranding Details: Flipper infection

Released: June 30, 2023

Huckleberry - SYHg2337

Stranding Location: Martha’s Vineyard

Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium?

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Male

Age at stranding: Approximately 4 months

Stranding Details: Lethargic, dehydration

Released: June 30, 2023

Pinto - IFAW23-102Hg

Stranding Location: Gloucester, MA

Stranding Facility: International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Male

Age at stranding: Approximately 5 months old

Stranding Details:

Released: June 14, 2023

Pickle - IFAW23-149Hg

Stranding Location: Wellfleet, MA

Stranding Facility: International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Male

Age at stranding: Approximately 4 months

Stranding Details: Dehydration, malnourishment

Released: July 18, 2023

Beach Plum - IFAW23-150Hg

Stranding Location: Chatham, MA

Stranding Facility: International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Female

Age at stranding: Approximately 5 months

Stranding Details: Entanglement, flipper amputation

Released: August 8, 2023

Cranberry - SXHg2356

Stranding Location: Block Island, RI

Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium

Species: Gray seal

Sex: Female

Age at stranding: Approximately 6 months

Stranding Details: Lethargic and minimally responsive

Released: December 6, 2023

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