Harbor Seal, "Sand Dollar"

The Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP) released a young harbor seal on Tuesday, March 15, 2005. The seal, named Sand Dollar, was outfitted with a satellite tracking tag and her movements were monitored until June 12 of the same year.

Signals were received from Sand Dollar's satellite tag for approximately three months. During that time, the seal swam 994 miles (1600 km) and its starting and final points are 353 miles (568 km) apart.

The seal was sighted during a prolonged period in which she swam in the waters off of Nantucket Island.

A Landmark Release
The seal was the first ever released on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Sand Dollar’s injuries were sustained in waters near Virginia Beach, Virginia on January 3, 2005. Scientists agree that releasing this and other animals in the regions where they strand often makes sense.

The general public may be surprised to learn that harbor seals live in cool climates. New Jersey is home to the most southerly your-round population on the east coast. However, these seals often travel further south, and during the winter they are regular visitors to the Delmarva Peninsula.

Stranding and Rehabilitation
The seal was less than one year old when she stranded. Malnourished and dehydrated, she had experienced traumatic injuries to the left side of her head, neck, and eye.

Scientists and caretakers from the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center were the first to respond. A month later, she was transported to Baltimore for the MARP team to provide care.

Before the seal could be released, an ophthalmologist evaluated her eye and determined that there may be some minor vision loss, but not enough to prevent successful hunting once returned to the wild.

After completing an extensive rehabilitation, MARP staff took further steps to ensure that the animal would be able to hunt on its own and survive once released. For three weeks, the seal successfully hunted live fish that were put into the facility where she was housed.

Tracking
The satellite tag likely fell off when she shed her fur. The data transmitted provided insights into her movements, feeding patterns, and other behaviors.

The data helps scientists to predict the long-term success of this seal’s re-integration into the wild. More importantly, the data provides an opportunity to gain insight into the lives of all seals in their natural habitats.

Catch up on regional coverage of the Sand Dollar's return to the wild.

A Sendoff Into the Surf, The Washington Post

Healed Seal Returns to OC Waters, The Daily Times

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