By Kate Hruby, Communication and Education Coordinator
Harbor seal 25-2 on Alki Beach, Seattle, in January. Photo taken by community member James Tilley.
You see a harbor seal alone on the beach. They seem to be alert and able to move. They’re lifting their head and hind flippers, a sign that the seal has enough energy to be able to regulate their temperature.
But what is normal for a harbor seal? Is something wrong?
In the case of SR3’s second patient of the year, 25-2, yes something was wrong. This harbor seal was doing all the actions mentioned above, yet she was also skinny and didn’t have any visible moisture around her eyes. This suggests dehydration and, along with her malnourishment, is an indicator of potential illness.
A harbor seal pup at the beginning of care without moisture rings around their eyes, and then the same seal later in care, now well hydrated with visible dark rings around their eyes.
Wild animals are skilled at hiding their illnesses until they are extremely sick, so we can’t see every issue an animal is facing during field observation. In the case of 25-2, it turns out that she wasn’t just dehydrated, she also had respiratory and urogenital infections that were discovered during her full exam at the Rescue Center. A blood test confirmed these infections, and a fecal sample showed us that she was battling parasites as well.
Marine mammals are exposed to parasites through the food they eat, so we tend to see more of them in our patients who are old enough to eat fish. While parasites are a natural part of being a marine mammal in the wild, they can also overwhelm an animal if they have a lowered immune system due to things like injuries, infections or toxins. 25-2 unfortunately died a week into her care, and once an animal autopsy was conducted, we discovered she had thorny-headed worms, a harmful parasite that causes intestinal bleeding and infection. Some studies have also connected thorny-headed worms to heavy metals, PCBs, high nutrient loads, and other environmental pollution.
25-2 in a transport tote on her way to a medical exam at the Rescue Center.
Which leads us to another struggle that 25-2 was facing: humans.
Millions of people live in the Puget Sound, which means there is going to be a crossover between the locations where marine mammals like to rest and where people like to recreate, especially for animals that are already sick or injured and have less energy to avoid people. Therefore, the responsibility falls on people to ensure the animal’s safety from manmade dangers. 25-2 came to rest on a very populated beach in Seattle, and while she was brought into care before any direct human interaction impacted her on the beach, we have admitted other patients who suffered dog bites, gunshots, boat strikes, and other negative human-animal events.
No matter the species, their location, or their story, sick and injured animals deserve medical attention to determine what is wrong, especially since it is frequently human-caused. Though 25-2 didn’t survive, she still provides a legacy both for scientific research and marine mammal medicine. She helps us learn about the issues marine wildlife are facing and how we can work to mitigate those threats. She is an example of an animal that, while alert on the beach, was still in need of care. Because of this, we always encourage you to call response professionals anytime you are concerned about an animal.
What should you do if you see a marine mammal on the beach?
Stay far away - if they look at you, you’re too close
Keep your pets on a leash
If you notice an injury, signs of illness, or anything else that concerns you, call your local marine mammal response organization
Kindly let others in the area know to give the animal space