Mystic Aquarium caring for arctic seal spotted eating rocks in Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A hooded seal that was spotted eating rocks in Providence is now being treated at the Mystic Aquarium.

According to the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hooded seals are rare to New England, and occasionally come down from the North Atlantic where they live on snow and ice packs in deep water.

In a post on Facebook, the aquarium said it’s common for these “ice seals” to eat the ice and snow around them for extra hydration in the cold, dry, climate of their habitat.

When ice seals come down New England, the seals often display a “stress response” when approached where they eat the substrate they are on – often sand, rocks or shells.

The aquarium said they were monitoring the seal which was spotted in Westerly, eventually making its way to Providence.

The aquarium said the seal initially appeared to be in good body condition and displayed normal behaviors over the past few weeks.

However, at the most recent sighting in Providence, it was determined that her body condition was starting to decline, and she began to show signs of lethargy.

After responders roped off the area and brought the seal in, radiographs revealed that she had a stomach full of rocks and gravel and was severely dehydrated.

“We have been providing supportive care and fluid therapy to her with the hopes that she will start to pass some of the rocks on her own,” said the aquarium further in the post.

“We will continue to monitor her closely and take regular radiographs to ensure things are moving in the right direction. Her prognosis is guarded but we are working hard to give her the best possible care,” they continued.