Phil the seal released into the wild
Phil the wayward harbor seal, rescued from Killens Pond in April, is back in his normal habitat.
Phil was first spotted in the Murderkill River at the Coursey Pond spillway in December 2016. Most seals prefer to spend time in salt water, so onlookers and volunteers with Lewes-based Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute were surprised and concerned this seal had traveled so far inland.
As Phil lounged along the Murderkill in the winter months, locals kept an eye on him, reporting any sightings to MERR. As concerns arose for his health, MERR volunteers rescued Phil when he got stuck in the mud and sent him to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for assessment and treatment.
Phil was treated for about 12 weeks for dehydration, an eye infection and other minor ailments, according to the National Aquarium's blog. He also is now equipped with a satellite tracker so researchers can monitor his journey.
About 75 onlookers watched as the National Aquarium team released Phil around 10:30 a.m., June 27, at Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, N.J. For more, go to aqua.org/blog/2017/june/animal-rescue-phil-released.
