Week old harbor seal shot in the head now recovering in Des Moines - MyNorthwest.com

A harbor seal pup shot in the head a week ago is now recovering at Sea Life Response, Rehab and Research (SR3) in Des Moines. The male, about three weeks old, was receiving treatment at the SR3 facility after being found roughly 10 days earlier near Bellingham. SR3 said the case is rare for the organization, which had not treated a marine mammal shot at such a young age. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, shooting a seal or sea lion is a federal crime. SR3 noted it has received three gunshot patients within the past 11 months. Executive director and veterinary nurse Casey McLean said seal and sea lion populations remain stable. The pup is housed in a tent on the Des Moines waterfront, and SR3 planned a CT scan before attempting to remove the bullet. The group urged people to report suspected cruelty to agencies including NOAA and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.