Experts Spot “Furry” Seal On Beach — And Realize He’s Unlike Any They’ve Seen

During harbor seal pup season in Maine, rescue teams know to expect a few surprise calls. But nothing quite prepared the experts at Marine Mammals of Maine (MMM) for what they saw when they arrived at Scarborough Beach one morning.

A tiny seal pup lay alone on the sand — but it wasn’t just his size that stopped them in their tracks.

A Strange Coat Raises Alarm

Unlike most newborn harbor seals, who are sleek and gray or brown, this little pup was wrapped in a thick layer of fluffy white fur.

“He was born with the white, fluffy lanugo fur typically shed in utero before birth,” MMM explained.

That fur, a soft coat usually seen only in the womb, suggested one thing: he’d likely been born prematurely.

And he was brand-new — likely just a day old.

Where Was His Mom?

It’s not unusual for young seals to come ashore and wait for their mothers to return. But something about this pup was different.

He was vocal. He swam. He napped on the beach. All normal behaviors — but no mother ever came. What’s more, he'd already had too many encounters with beachgoers, a dangerous situation for any wild animal, especially one so young and vulnerable.

After observing him carefully and making one last sweep for signs of his mother, MMM made the call: this pup needed help if he was going to survive.

Starting His Second Chance

The pup was gently taken to MMM’s rehab center, where staff immediately began a specialized treatment plan. Caring for a preemie seal isn’t easy — but this little one is already making waves.

“He’ll stay with us for the next few months,” MMM shared. “He’ll start with formula feeds, then graduate to eating fish as he gets older and stronger.”

You can see more pictures of the seal here:

And he’s adjusting quickly to his new life.

“He’s doing great,” said Lynda Ada Doughty of MMM. “He loves to suckle on his pool mate, who’s also a dependent pup — and he’s a big fan of swim time, too!”