Wayward, Street Wandering Ocean City Seal Dies

A story about a wayward seal pup who came ashore in Ocean City and wandered the city's streets before being rescued has come to a sad end. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said today that the seal died on Sunday.

Seal Cub Traveled the Streets of Ocean City

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center posted on Facebook several days ago about a dehydrated seal cub that came out of the bay in Ocean City at 42nd Street and traveled for a 1/4-mile through the neighborhood, crawling down streets, crossing several multiple intersections, and having at least one close call with a passing car.

Ocean City Residents Contacted Marine Mammal Stranding Center

Brigantine's Marine Mammal Stranding Center said in their Facebook post that they began receiving numerous calls and updates about the traveling Grey seal pup just before 5 pm Wednesday, Feb 7.

Ocean City Police even stopped traffic to safeguard the seal pup, according to the MMSC.

The Seal's Health Quickly Declined

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said the seal pup seemed to be gaining strength in the days since his journey through Ocean City, as MMSC staffers gave him food and electrolytes through a feeding tube.

However, on the evening of February 19th the pup showed a very sudden and rapid decline, and despite the extraordinary efforts by our staff to resuscitate him, the pup passed away only a few minutes later. A full necropsy will be performed to provide insight on what may have caused him to go down so quickly.

A Sad Day for Many People

From the staff at the MMSC to those in the community who knew of his story, the death of the young seal left many very sad on Tuesday.

I’m so very sorry. I’m so grateful he was with you and had loving care in his last weeks. You are his angels. Eternal peace in the Heavenly waters now little one.

Thank you for caring for this precious baby….

Rest in peace little one. Thank you for your efforts to save him and others