Now more than ever, local news matters.

Now more than ever, local news matters.

A Harbor Seal pup made its way out of the Peconic River and into a parking lot on the traffic circle in Riverside early yesterday morning.

Southampton Town Police received a 911 call at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday reporting a seal in the parking lot of the Thrifty Beverage store.

Responding officers located the seal and were able to capture it — though not before “it fled southwest in the direction of the Budget Host Motel,” police said in a press release Sunday morning. Stranded Harbor Seal in Riverside Sunday morning. Photo: Southampton Town Police

“The animal was detained by patrol officers and taken into custody by the Riverhead Foundation,” Southampton Town Police said in the press release, referring to the New York Marine Rescue Center, located at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead, by its former name.

The rescue center is evaluating and caring for the pup. It will be released at a later date, police said.

A spokesperson for the rescue center told the Riverhead News-Review yesterday a video recording showed the seal climbing out of the river by way of a “fish ladder” in Grangebel Park.

The fish ladder, or fishway, is a rocky structure that was built in Grangebel Park in the winter of 2010 to assist alewife fish in their annual spring migration up the river to spawn. Grangebel Park fishway in 2010. File photo: Peter Blasl

Harbor Seals, the most common seals native to Long Island, are typically seen off the shores of the L.I. Sound, the Atlantic Ocean and the bays, but have been spotted in the western Peconic River — as have other seal species, including a Gray Seal in 2020. Seals “haul out” of the water in rocky areas and beaches to rest.

While Harbor Seals look clumsy on land and move by means of undulation — their short foreflippers do not reach the ground — hunching their stomachs in inch-worm fashion, they are actually quite fast for short distances.

The N.Y. Marine Rescue Center responds to stranded sea turtles, seals, dolphins and porpoises in New York State. It rescues, evaluates, rehabilitates and releases the animals into their natural environment. The rescue center maintains a 24-hour hotline — (631) 369-9829 — and asks the public to contact the center with information including location, photos, and as many details as possible. The survival of local journalism depends on your support. We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community. Support RiverheadLOCAL today.

The survival of local journalism depends on your support. We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community. Support RiverheadLOCAL today.