Popcorn Park is more than just a great place to visit hundreds of rescued animals. Staff is often called upon to help animals in immediate need. Such was the case with a stranded seal. Popcorn Park was on its way after a call for help; the following written by General Manager, John Bergmann ...

We received a call yesterday morning from a Waretown resident that had a stranded seal on the bay beach behind her home. I had our receptionist call the Marine Mammal Stranding Center and we went down to see if the seal was alright and to keep crowds or other animals from stressing her. She was in pretty good flesh and with no apparent injuries.

Took some pictures and emailed them to the center, and then called them. They also said she didn't look bad and that they have had a number of these Harp Seals up on beaches. Most of them are coming down this way from Maine and with the nor'easter coming in the ocean is pretty rough and makes it a tough swim for them. When they get here, they look for a sheltered beach to rest on. He said it's not unusual for them to rest up on the beach for up to 24 hours. The center does this all day and knows what they are doing, but it was pretty worriesome for us.

So we stayed for a couple hours and then checked on her throughout the day, she moved around but never to the water. When I checked on her about 5 pm, she was moving around a bit more, and stretching her flippers and tail like she was getting ready to go. She did, she started towards the water, stopped, looked back at us, and rolled on her side and went to sleep. It was hard leaving her there, but the center said we shouldn't worry until the morning if she were still there. With homeowners and their neighbors there checking on her through the night, we left.

When I got there this morning, she was lying still and didn't move. It scared me, but when I went down next to her, she popped her head up and looked much better and more alert than yesterday. I took some more pictures for the center, and went back up on the bulkhead. A minute or two later, she did that funny seal flop, and went off into the bay, headed for the inlet.

Good luck girl, it's rough out there.