PHIPPSBURG – A group of five seal pups flopped their way down a beach in Phippsburg to the ocean and freedom Tuesday, the latest to be rehabilitated and released by a Maine-based nonprofit.
Workers and volunteers with Marine Mammals of Maine released the seals from carrier boxes onto the sand of Head Beach while dozens of onlookers watched, took photos, and recorded the moment on their phones.
“I’m not going to get a seal release in central Maine,” said Cindy Moxcey, 64, who drove more than an hour from her home in Waterville to see the release.
Each of the seals, three female and two male, were orphaned in part by interactions with humans before coming into the nonprofit’s care back in May, according to Executive Director Lynda Doughty. They came from Jonesport, Harrington, Belfast and Casco Bay.
They all were in various stages of health. At least one was less than 24 hours old. One, Doughty said, had an infected wound in her mouth and nearly died.
All five, however, survived under the organization’s care. Doughty said they try to preserve the pups’ natural instincts, such as making sure to eventually introduce them to live fish, so they can practice catching their food.
“Our goal is to pretty much do what mom would have taught them in the wild,” she said.
Upon release Tuesday, some of them hesitated, but eventually all five made their way down to the water as the crowd applauded. Among the onlookers was Emily Sprogis, 43, of Gorham. She brought her kids, Juri, 10, and Isla, 8, to see the release.
Isla was particularly excited. Her mom said she cares about marine life so much that for her last birthday she asked for money to be donated to the organization, about $250.
When asked what she loved about seals so much, Isla said, “They’re just really cute, and I like to swim, and they swim.”
Marine Mammals of Maine responds to reports of animals, including seals, in distress or having harmful interactions with humans. The organization regularly takes in seals that need medical care or other help.
Terry Perkins Mitman, 62, now lives in Wisconsin and summers in Belgrade, but she used to live in Cape Elizabeth. She said she remembers when two seals, who were nicknamed “Sunshine” and “Dexxy,” were found alone on the shore there in the winter of 2023.
Mitman said she was so moved by the organization’s work, she volunteered there for some time and even wrote a children’s book, A Seal Named Sunshine, about the rehabilitation.
“When I saw the people saving Sunshine, I thought, ‘This is cool, and I want to share this,’” she said.
The organization comes to Head Beach to release rehabilitated seals often, but Doughty said this is the first time workers released five at once.
The number is indicative of the busy season the nonprofit has had. Doughty said they most often see new seals coming in during the pupping season, usually in April or May. She said she covers an area stretching from Kittery to Rockland, and a number of other organizations that offer similar care have had to close recently.
As a result, Doughty said, the nonprofit has taken in as many as 15 pups so far this year, the most they’ve ever cared for at any one time.
“We’re going to probably double the number that we saw last year that came through and were released,” she said.
Doughty said the organization’s work also serves as a reminder of how fragile wildlife can be, and urged the public not to approach a seal if they see one, even if it looks like it’s in trouble.
Instead, she said, people should take pictures and report the sighting right away to Marine Mammals of Maine’s hotline at 1-800-532-9551.
“We need those eyes because these animals wouldn’t have a chance today without the public calling them in,” she said.
