A three-week-old harbor seal pup is fighting an almost unbelievable battle for survival after being pulled from the water near Bellingham with a gunshot wound to the head. The male pup is now in the care of SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research (SR3) veterinarians in Des Moines, where he is tucked inside a clinical tent and showing the first, fragile signs of recovery. The case has stunned rescuers and marine advocates, who warn that shootings put an already vulnerable population even further at risk.
As reported by KIRO 7, the pup was found about 10 days ago near Bellingham and rushed to SR3’s facility in Des Moines. Staff first spotted a disturbing head wound, and imaging later confirmed a projectile lodged inside. Vets say the pup has started to eat and interact more normally as he stabilizes. Images from the rescue and treatment were credited to KOMO and CNN in a gallery carried by Local12.
Inside SR3’s Fight To Save The Pup
SR3 staff are using x-rays and planning a CT scan to chart the full path of the wound and decide whether the bullet can be removed safely, according to SR3. In the meantime, the team is keeping the pup on antibiotics and pain medication while watching his every move. The nonprofit says it has seen several gunshot cases already this season, and that small changes in behavior and appetite can be the first clues that things are either improving or taking a bad turn. Even when a pup looks bright and engaged, veterinarians warn that hidden infection or subtle brain injury can still be lurking in the background.
What Federal Law Says About Shooting Seals
Shooting a seal or sea lion is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and NOAA Fisheries warns that violations can bring civil penalties in the tens of thousands of dollars and even jail time. The agency runs an enforcement hotline that lets people report suspected shootings and offers tips on what details are most useful to investigators. Officials say quick, specific reports help them protect animals in real time and build cases that actually hold up when it comes time to enforce the law.
String Of Seal Shootings Has Rescuers Worried
This latest case is not a one-off. Rescuers say it is part of a troubling pattern of seal shootings in local waters. KIRO 7 reports that SR3 has taken in multiple gunshot patients over the past year. In February, an adult female harbor seal found near Quilcene was brought to SR3 after x-rays revealed a bullet lodged in her face. She later died from complications, according to local reporting. Investigators, including NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, have previously urged the public to come forward with any information that might help them track down whoever is responsible.
What You Can Do To Help
If you see an injured or stranded marine mammal, you are asked to call the West Coast Stranding Hotline at 1-866-767-6114. To report a suspected illegal shooting, call the NOAA Fisheries enforcement hotline at 1-800-853-1964, according to NOAA Fisheries. Officials recommend staying at least 50 to 100 yards away from seal pups and haul-out areas, keeping dogs leashed, and taking note of the location, time, and any useful details about vessels or possible shooters. Those details, and fast reporting, give responders the best shot at saving injured animals and help law enforcement build cases that might prevent the next attack.
