Harbor seal tracked by satellite

Sandy with her tracking device, which monitors her travels. - Contributed photo/ Robin Lindsey
Contributed photo/ Robin Lindsey
Sandy with her tracking device, which monitors her travels.

February 7, 2012 · Updated 2:29 PM 

Scientists from the Puget Sound region are getting new information about harbor seals by tracking a rehabilitated seal by satellite. They are studying a seal named Sandy, found on the beach in West Seattle last August and released to the wild in January.

At the time she was found, Sandy was extremely weak and barely responsive, with numerous infected wounds. She was severely dehydrated and malnourished.

Sandy was sent to the PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center  for stabilization, treatment and care.

The seal has been outfitted with a tracking device that pings her location to a satellite, plotting her travels on a map. This is the first time a seal in this age class  — “older rehabilitated weaned yearling” — has been tracked by satellite in Washington, and the project is expected to provide important data.

To see the tracking map,  visit www.seadocsociety.org.

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