SEAL SIGHTED IN HACKENSACK RIVER; MAMMAL EXPERT SAYS TO JUST LET IT BE

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Monday, December 10, 1990

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A05

“Elvis” resurfaced Sunday on the Hackensack River.

This Elvis was not the king of rock-and-roll, but a gray-colored seal first spotted Saturday afternoon by two Fairleigh Dickinson University students. The students promptly named the seal Elvis.

The seal, about 2 1/2 feet long, perched itself atop a log Sunday afternoon, preening and sunning itself for several hours as onlookers stared at it in amazement.

Charlie Mataski, who said he worked for an environmental company that did a water-quality test on the river not too long ago, said the seal appeared to be healthy.

“Look how peaceful he is,” Mataski said. “He’s more relaxed than we are. “

Teaneck Patrolman Walter Haase said the dispatcher did not believe him when he radioed in the report that there was a seal in the water.

Seth Weisleder, 18, a freshman FDU student, said he and a roommate saw the seal about 1 p.m. Saturday. They became worried about its safety when they returned from errands three hours later and found the seal still in the water near the campus.

“We contacted the New York aquarium,” Weisleder said. “We didn’t know who else to call.”

They were told to call the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.

Robert Schoelkopf, director of the center, said it is not unusual for seals to turn up in New Jersey waters.

“Last year we handled 18 seals at our center and handled over 50 calls in the New Jersey area, and we expect more this year,” Schoelkopf said.

Humans pose the greatest danger to the seals, he said.

As long as the seal is free-swimming and does not appear to be in any obvious distress, it should be left in the water, Schoelkopf said. It is illegal even for the stranding center to try to capture the seal if it is not injured, he said.

Under a federal harassment law, it is illegal to throw objects at such an animal. On Sunday, a man was throwing a tennis ball at the seal.

“Direct contact is a no-no. Do not approach the animal. Keep a safe distance,” Schoelkopf said. “The animals are wild. They are not puppy dogs. “

ID: 17326228 | Copyright © 1990, The Record (New Jersey)