Stuyvesant Cove Park gets an unlikely visitor

Harbor Seal at Stuyvesant Cove Park

Harbor Seal at Stuyvesant Cove Park

On Saturday March 28th at about 8:00am Stuyvesant Cove Park had a visitor stop by for a while….a Harbor Seal!

It was hanging out on the rocky outcropping in the East River at about 20th street. Many people gathered around to see the seal and to make sure it was okay.  According to CRESLI

“Population counts over the last 12 years have indicated a dramatic increase in the number of seals utilizing Long Island’s waters, as well as a shift in the species composition of the region…”

So to see a seal hauled up on a rock in the East River or other bodies of water around the city is not such an uncommon occurrence.  Look at CRESLI for viewing guidelines when you see a seal.  This however was the first one that we know of that came to the rocky outcropping since Stuyvesant Cove Park was built. For more information on marine mammals and rescue efforts go to Riverhead Foundation

At about 10am just after the police and fireman had arrived the seal, which didn’t seem to be hurt or in distress, slipped back into the water and swam away. Photographers from a few different newspapers came by to get a glimpse of the seal, but the above photo (taken by park manager Melissa McDonald) with the exception of a few cell phone pictures, was the only photo to capture the seal.

The seal looked like a yearling, which means it is between the ages of 1- 2yrs old and a length of 3.5′-4′. Harbor seals mature between 4-6 years and live for about 25 years. The increase in seal sightings in the Hudson River Estuary and around Long Island are a testament to increased water quality as well as a reaction to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

 


Posted on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm | Tagged in East River, Stuyvesant Cove Park, Water | posted by Melissa

AddThis Social Bookmark Button   Print Print   Email Email