THE ROCKAWAYS — Two seals have been found on Rockaway Beach in as many days, officials said Tuesday.
On Monday night, a grey seal was discovered washed up on the beach, though its exact location has not been confirmed, said Rob DiGiovanni, director of the Riverhead Foundation, which rescues stranded marine wildlife.
The foundation was called in to inspect the seal, which workers found in critical condition and rushed from the scene about 7:30 p.m., DiGiovanni said.
"Currently it is underweight, and when they're underweight they're malnourished," DiGiovanni said. "But they also get fresh water from their diet, and so it's also dehydrated."
As of Tuesday afternoon, the seal was in a tank being monitored by Riverhead officials. They tested its blood, gave it an Iand a physical and were trying to raise its glucose levels, DiGiovanni said.
They were also feeding the mammal four times a day and monitoring closely, DiGiovanni said.
On Tuesday morning, another grey seal pulled itself out of the water near Beach 72nd Street, a Parks Department spokesman said.
The department again contacted the Riverhead Foundation, who declared the seal healthy, and the seal returned to the water at around 12:30 p.m., the spokesman said.
Seals will frequently come out of the water, the spokesman said, but mostly off shore.
They can come out for sun or because they are tired or ill, and it is not uncommon, though not an everyday occurrence, the spokesman said.
