Saturday, September 16, 2006

Officials Rescue Artic Seal in Wrightsville Beach

Beach goers were surprised to find a four-foot long Artic ice seal playing in the waters near the Oceanic Pier Friday morning. The seal, most likely a young hooded seal, was obviously way off course to have ended more than a thousand miles south of its normal territory. State officials with the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher captured the seal and are transporting it to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach. The seal will undergo testing before it is released into the wild farther north. Scientists have noticed a recent increase in the number of Artic seals found in warmer waters and they are hoping to learn what's causing the unusual behavior. Who knows, maybe seals enjoy a little fun in the sun off North Carolina's beaches as much as we do. More on the seal ia available from the Wilmington Star.

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