Animal Rescue Program
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 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.
Stay up to date with all the happenings of the Animal Rescue Program by joining our official Facebook group, Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Program.
2025 Seal Releases
Firefly - SYHg2504
Stranding Location: South Kingstown, RI
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Male
Age at stranding: 5 weeks
Stranding details: Entanglement
Released: February 4, 2025
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
Pappardelle - IFAW24-027Pg
Stranding Location: Dartmouth, MA
Stranding Facility: International Fund for Animal Welfare
Species: Harp seal
Sex: Male
Age at stranding: Approximately 1 year old
Stranding Details: Ingesting rocks and dehydration
Released: April 10, 2024
Ravioli - IFAW24-047Pg
Stranding Location: South Yarmouth, MA
Stranding Facility: International Fund for Animal Welfare
Species: Harp seal
Sex: Female
Age at stranding: Approximately 1 year old
Stranding Details: Lethargic, malnourishment, dehydration
Released: April 17, 2024
Orzo - SYHg2417
Stranding Location: Old Lyme, CT
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Male
Age at stranding: Approximately 8 weeks old
Stranding Details: Lethargic, malnourishment, dehydration
Released: April 17, 2024
Manicotti - SXHg2419
Stranding Location: Block Island, RI
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Female
Age at stranding: Approximately 8 weeks old
Stranding Details:
Released: May 10, 2024
Gaia - SXHg431
Stranding Location: Block Island, RI
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Female
Age at Stranding: Approximately 3 months old
Stranding Details: Entanglement
Released: June 21, 2024
Ditalini - SYPg2421
Stranding Location: Pawcatuck, CT
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Harp seal
Sex: Male
Age at stranding: approximately 1 year
Stranding Details: Lethargic and dehydrated
Released: May 17, 2024
Gnocchi - SYHg2405
Stranding Location: Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Stranding Facility: The Wampanoag Tribe
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Male
Age at stranding: approximately 2 months
Stranding Details: Eye infection
Released: May 17, 2024
Rotini - IFAW23-195Pv
Stranding Location: Sandwich, MA
Stranding Facility: International Fund for Animal Welfare
Species: Harbor seal
Sex: Female
Age at stranding: Approximately 8 weeks old
Stranding Details: Lethargic and malnourished
Released: May 10, 2024
Manicotti - SXHg2419
Stranding Location: Block Island, RI
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Female
Age at stranding: Approximately 8 weeks old
Stranding Details: Puncture wounds and dehydrated
Released: May 10, 2024
Cavatelli - SYHg2450
Stranding Location: Block Island, RI
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Male
Age at stranding: Approximately 4 months old
Stranding Details: Puncture wounds on abdomen and malnourished
Released: July 25, 2024
Sealy Dan - SYHg2441
Stranding Location: Block Island, RI
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Male
Age at stranding: Approximately 4 months old
Stranding Details: Severe puncture wound on shoulder
Released: July 25, 2024
Tortellini - SXHg2436
Stranding Location: Block Island, RI
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Female
Age at stranding: Approximately 4 months old
Stranding Details: Entangled in fishing line and rope
Released: July 25, 2024
Orecchiette - SXHg2426
Stranding Location: Block Island, RI
Stranding Facility: Mystic Aquarium
Species: Gray seal
Sex: Female
Age at stranding: Approximately 4 months old
Stranding Details: Malnourished and had large abscess on flipper
Released: July 25, 2024
Nova - SXCc2488
Linguine - SYPv2494
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
