Seal rescued trying to cross Route 1 in Sussex County

A harbor seal attempting to cross Route 1 near Delaware Seashore State Park was rescued by volunteers and good Samaritans this week.

Suzanne Thurman, director of the Lewes-based Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute, said an approximately 60-pound, 1-year-old harbor seal was originally spotted by motorists traveling on the state highway Monday afternoon.

The mammal appeared to be trying to cross Route 1 near the Indian River Inlet Bridge to into the ocean to the east, Thurman said. She added it's possible that, due to the weekend storm which saw nearly historic high tides and numerous floods, the seal might have taken refuge at a nearby marsh before trying to return to the ocean.

"She could’ve gone there trying to get some shelter and try and get away from those huge waves," Thurman said. "She probably went back into Indian River Inlet and then into Rehoboth Bay."

With that portion of Route 1 being a 55 m.p.h. speed zone, Thurman said volunteers with her institute along with members of the Dewey Beach Police Department and State Park Rangers helped to redirect traffic and secure the area for the seal's rescue.

After a brief stint of the motorists trying to help the seal themselves, volunteers with MERR Institute were able to capture the seal and release it into the bayside of The Point at Cape Henlopen later that day. Thurman added the seal appeared to be in good health and the assistance of local police helped the rescue go smoothly.

It's the institute's first seal rescue of 2016 and it comes following reports that seal sightings in Delaware could be on the rise as some scientists believe the species' population farther north is growing, forcing some to look for food farther south.

A seal sighting also occurred along Ocean City earlier this month.

First seal of the season spotted on Ocean City beach

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