Elmer

Harbor seal pup Elmer was spotted alone on the beach by local fishermen and caring beachgoers who knew to call us if they ever spotted a marine mammal in distress. They stayed with Elmer until our marine responder arrived to rescue him. 

Elmer still had his umbilical cord when he was rescued, so we knew he was only a few days old — much too young to be without his mother. He was also extremely malnourished, and although his health was mostly stable, he did have some episodes of lethargy and low blood sugar during his first few weeks in care.

Newborn harbor seals receive all of their nutrition as well as important antibodies from their mother’s milk. That’s why orphaned pups like Elmer require specialized care, like tube-feedings of formula several times a day as well as antibiotics to protect them while their immune systems develop.

But as Elmer got older, it became clear that something wasn’t quite right. Unlike other seals his age, he had no interest in or ability to catch fish — a key skill he would need to survive on his own.

During an examination, our veterinary experts determined that he had developed bilateral cataracts, rendering him blind in both eyes. Knowing that returning to the wild wouldn’t be a viable option, our partners at NOAA led a search to find a permanent home for Elmer where he could continue to receive the specialized care he would need to thrive.

In his new home at Bahia Resort San Diego, Elmer joined two other visually impaired harbor seals, Gracie and Billy. Both of these seals stranded as pups and have been at the Bahia Resort Hotel from a young age. Gracie is 18 years old, and Billy is about 8 years old. Elmer’s new home is a large outdoor pool with rocks and alcoves to climb on that provide lots of nice places to haul out. He immediately explored and bonded with his new harbor seal pen-mates.