Rehabilitated Seal Pup Released Back Into Wild at Scusset Beach

SANDWICH – Officials from the National Marine Life Center released a rehabilitated gray seal pup back in to the wild Thursday at Scusset Beach.

The animal, named Seal Degrasse-Tyson, a homage to the famous astrophysicist Neil Degrasse-Tyson, was found with bite wounds on his head on Nantucket in January.

“He was rescued by some folks on Nantucket and brought over on the ferry,” said Kathy Zagzebski, the Executive Director of the National Marine Life Center.

Rescuers brought the seal to the center’s facility in Bourne where caretakers treated him with antibiotics for an infection that developed due to his injuries.

Because the seal was young, he had to be taught a number of behaviors, like how to eat.

“He picked it up right away, he got better, and he’s made a wonderful turnaround,” Zagzebski said.

In total, the seal spent about six weeks in treatment before Thursday’s release.