Gray Seal Rescued at the Isles of Shoals

A gray seal caught in fishing gear was rescued at the Isles of Shoals on Saturday.

The animal was stuck in the water with nets and ropes around her neck, anchoring her in place and cutting into her body.

Ashley Stokes, who leads marine mammal conservation at the Seacoast Science Center, says her team sees very few entanglements each year.

This rescue was particularly complicated. The seal was making her injuries from her entanglement worse while trying to free herself.

Seacoast Science Center’s marine mammal rescue program has a 24/7 hotline for stranded marine mammals, which can be reached at 603-997-9448.