In March of 2016, a caring individual called the hotline to report a young seal on their dock in Southport, Maine. A nearby volunteer responder was dispatched to assess the animal, and found a deep entangling line wrapped tightly around the young harbor seal’s neck. If left untreated, as the seal grew the line would cut deeper and deeper into its neck. He was quickly rescued and transported to MMoME’s new triage center. There, the entangling line was carefully removed from his neck, yielding an infection that had already started. He was immediately started on antibiotics, IV fluid therapy, and nutrition. With a full belly and a safe quiet place to start healing, he was successfully stabilized in MMoME’s care, and transported to a long-term care center 4 days later. After 5 months of continued care, he was cleared for release back to the ocean! Though he will have a permanent scar where the monofilament line used to be, he is healthy and healed from his previous injury. Now it is up to people like you to keep our beaches and oceans clean for him. Picking up just one piece of trash can save a seal like him!
