By Joe Reynolds
Despite
the snow and ice last weekend, winter made a quick retreat by Tuesday with high temperatures
in the low 50s with bright sunny skies. The
warm sun had melted much of the snow by late in the day.
Yet
in a winter that has been full of surprising weather, a typical winter visitor came
calling to enjoy the sun and spring-like temperatures. An adult Atlantic Harbor
Seal was spotted early in the morning at a marina in Port Monmouth located
along Pews Creek, one of the many small waterways that drain into Lower New
York Bay.
I
caught the seal lounging out on the far end of a wooden boat dock in the marina.
It was hauled out and resting, probably digesting a bellyful of fish. The seal
was wisely in a sheltered stretch of the bay, behind a small inlet. At first I thought I was looking at some
timber that had floated in during the high tide, however, the dog-pup profile
of the head suggested that it was a Harbor Seal.
What
a sight to see right here, located in one of the most busy and bustling bays in
the world. The scene of this marine mammal is a wonderful reminder of the Lower
Bay's connection to the ocean, how everything is connected, and the need to
keep the world's waters clean and unpolluted for these beautiful animals to
survive and thrive.
Almost
certainly this Harbor Seal migrated south all the way from either the coast of Maine
or the Atlantic Provinces of Canada where a majority of Harbor Seals mate and
reproduce. By the end of November, many seals will leave this northern habitat in
great numbers to coastlines along New York and New Jersey following schools of
fish.
An adult Harbor Seal he seal was hauled out on a pier, lying in the
sun, in the typical "banana" posture.
Overall,
Harbor Seals are considered to be opportunistic feeders and tend to forage on
fish and squid species that are regionally and seasonally abundant, showing a
preference for small schooling fishes, such as herring. Recent studies have also
shown that their main prey item is sand lance, an eel like fish often found along
coastal waters with sandy bottoms.
The
seal seemed sleepy, but healthy looking enough. It appeared long and large, at
least 4 feet in length and probably at least 30 pounds in weight. A big
creature of the sea. It had red or rust-colored areas possibly due to the prescience
of iron oxide in the water where the seal forages.
No
doubt this tired seal traveled all the way from Maine or Canada to dine on the
bounty of fish found in and around Lower New York Bay. Who would have thought a
variety of marine mammals including dolphins, whales, porpoises, and even an occasional
wayward manatee could be seen in this urban jungle.
It
was great having the Harbor Seal here for most of the day, but it didn't last long.
By early the next day, the high tide was in but the seal was out. In all
likelihood foraging for fish again around the estuary. Still, the sight of this
marine mammal proved that New York and New Jersey can go coastal all year long!
While seals are a common winter
visitor to our local waters, people should always take care NOT to make your
presence known — either visually or audibly — when you come across an
individual or a group of seals. Seals may flee into the water immediately when
they hear or sight a human. This flight disrupts their habits and may endanger
their health. Please maintain a minimum distance of 150 feet from any marine
mammal in the water or on the shore to prevent a disturbance.
If you see a seal that you think is in distress, do not touch or approach it.
Contact the police or a park ranger and give the seals exact location and a
description of the animal. You may also contact directly the Marine MammalStranding Center in NJ at (609)
266-0538 or the Riverhead Foundation for MarineResearch and Preservation in
New York City at (631)369.9829
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