Gazette-Times

NEWPORT — An injured seal pup found in a car during a police arrest has healed up at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and was released south of Seal Rock on Friday.

“It went great. She swam off and she is now on her own, out at sea,” said Cindy Hanson, aquarium public relations manager.

“Everybody was very happy. She seemed to be very healthy,” Hanson added.

The pup had multiple puncture wounds and infections when she was discovered by Oregon State Police in Florence during a drunken driving arrest Sept. 17. A 24-year-old man was arrested, suspected of possession of protected wildlife and driving under the influence of intoxicants.

The seal and a pit bull were in his vehicle.

Rehabilitation of the pup was achieved with as little interaction with people as possible in an effort to prevent imprinting. The objective was to help the animal recover so she didn’t associate food with people.

Jim Burke, aquarium director of husbandry, hopes the incident will serve as a reminder that it’s not only a bad idea to pick up a stranded seal pup, but it is illegal because they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

“Most people are well intentioned, but it is still not in the best interest of the animal to pick it up or even go near it.” Burke said the aquarium rehabilitates animals that are injured by human interference, not by natural processes.

“It’s important not to interfere with nature. Often a mother will leave her pup on the beach and come back for it later, but if the seal is moved it can become permanently separated from its mother.”

“Most of the time, the animals were better off if they were left alone,” Hanson said. “Often it dooms the animal.”

She added that in other incidents, state police have confiscated marine mammals from bathtubs.

Suddenly in darkness emerged a ship as along the shore the tide did rip, I stood watch biting lower lip, the ship crept closer the wind was roaring, above my head a gull was soaring, then twas quiet, arose the mist, the ship was gone it was no more ....