03-09-2006, 10:23 AM
[#588000]Looks like he has kin that moved Smitten By The Seal![[Image: blackpix.gif]](http://www.courant.com/images/standard/blackpix.gif)
Whiskered Harp Basks In Sun Brightening Eyes Of Curious
March 8, 2006
By ALAINE GRIFFIN, Courant Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN -- A young, whiskered harp seal that somehow made its way to the city entertained Harbor Park Restaurant employees Monday with its frolicking in the frigid Connecticut River.
By noon Tuesday, when it appeared the show was over, the playful-but-shy seal beached itself on the Wesleyan crew team dock, causing concerned spectators to call police. But the seal was still performing.
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"He was playing possum," Gail Petras, Middletown's animal control officer, said. "He was [lying] there like a dead weight, hoping people would go away."
But they didn't.
Police officers stood guard. Bicyclists took a break from their rides. Middletown's fire chief and deputy fire chief stopped by to get a look. For two days, the seal had an audience.
While seals traditionally migrate into southern New England waters in the winter, officials said it's unusual to spot a seal from the Arrigoni Bridge. Onlookers said they were concerned the seal was out of its element.
Shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, the seal picked itself up, shuffled to the end of the dock, stuck its head in the water and instantly shook off the drops. It then slid into the river.
"He was probably nice and warm and dry by then and decided it was time to go back in the water," Petras said.
The seal show and similar seal sightings along the Connecticut River recently were enough to get the attention of Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration officials, who traveled to Middletown Tuesday.
"We don't get seals normally this far north in the river," Petras said. "They have had a lot of calls in the past week or two about sightings along the river."
Aquarium officials noted the seal's whereabouts and are planning to erect a sign in Harbor Park with information about seals that includes safety warnings about the dangers of coming in contact with a seal and outlining laws against harming them.
Petras said harp seals are known to have a nasty bite when they become scared.
"They do bite, so people should not disturb them if they see them," Petras said. "Mystic Aquarium wants to try and educate people here because they said he could come back."
And that's OK with Petras.
"He was adorable, absolutely adorable," she said.
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Whiskered Harp Basks In Sun Brightening Eyes Of CuriousMarch 8, 2006
By ALAINE GRIFFIN, Courant Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN -- A young, whiskered harp seal that somehow made its way to the city entertained Harbor Park Restaurant employees Monday with its frolicking in the frigid Connecticut River.
By noon Tuesday, when it appeared the show was over, the playful-but-shy seal beached itself on the Wesleyan crew team dock, causing concerned spectators to call police. But the seal was still performing.
ADVERTISEMENT [url "http://clk.atdmt.com/ATA/go/cnoccb2c0270000100ata/direct/01/seRsmg,bcbaakwvarjd/"]
But they didn't.
Police officers stood guard. Bicyclists took a break from their rides. Middletown's fire chief and deputy fire chief stopped by to get a look. For two days, the seal had an audience.
While seals traditionally migrate into southern New England waters in the winter, officials said it's unusual to spot a seal from the Arrigoni Bridge. Onlookers said they were concerned the seal was out of its element.
Shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, the seal picked itself up, shuffled to the end of the dock, stuck its head in the water and instantly shook off the drops. It then slid into the river.
"He was probably nice and warm and dry by then and decided it was time to go back in the water," Petras said.
The seal show and similar seal sightings along the Connecticut River recently were enough to get the attention of Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration officials, who traveled to Middletown Tuesday.
"We don't get seals normally this far north in the river," Petras said. "They have had a lot of calls in the past week or two about sightings along the river."
Aquarium officials noted the seal's whereabouts and are planning to erect a sign in Harbor Park with information about seals that includes safety warnings about the dangers of coming in contact with a seal and outlining laws against harming them.
Petras said harp seals are known to have a nasty bite when they become scared.
"They do bite, so people should not disturb them if they see them," Petras said. "Mystic Aquarium wants to try and educate people here because they said he could come back."
And that's OK with Petras.
"He was adorable, absolutely adorable," she said.
[/#588000] Interact with The Courant:
> [url "http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-news-correx-cf,0,3980565.customform"]Email [/url]Reader Rep. Karen Hunter with comments.
> [url "http://www.courant.com/talkback"]Visit [/url]Karen's daily Blog.
> [url "http://www.courant.com/news/corrections/"]View [/url]today's corrections.
> [url "http://www.courant.com/offer"]Subscribe [/url]to The Courant.
> [url "http://www.tmsreprints.com/forms/reprints/hartford.html"]Request [/url]reprints/permissions.
> [url "http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/advancedsearch.html"]Search [/url]our archives up the CT. River now.
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