Officials in New Jersey are reminding beachgoers to stay away from seals after record numbers of the marine mammals have appeared on beaches.
Bob Schoelkopf, founder and director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, tells The Courier-Post his organization gets up to three calls a day about seals. He credits the spike in the number of seals on New Jersey beaches to an increase their population.
Schoelkopf advises people to stay at least 50 yards away from the animals. He adds that people should not touch seals or let their dogs come in contact with them.
Many of the seals found are juvenile Gray pups. Schoelkopf says the pups come ashore to warm up. Other seals have health problems like tapeworms or cuts from boat propellers.
Copyright The Associated Press
