Seal spotted taking swim in Charles River

WHDH 7 News, Thursday, October 21, 2010

BOSTON - Several people are worried that a seal could be in harm’s way after spotting it taking a swim in the Charles River over the weekend.

“I looked out into the current...and bobbing up out of the water was a seal head,” said Justin Carle, a duck boat operator.

Carle first noticed the seal last Friday and since then it’s been popping up in different spots all along the river. Wednesday night the seal was seen swimming around the Longfellow Bridge.

“I have been doing this for 9 years and all I see out here is normally birds and boats, so to see a seal head pop up out of the Charles River was quite entertaining,” said Carle.

The MIT sailing coach and his team caught a glimpse of the seal too. They were able to shoot a video of him bobbing in the water.

“It just kind of came up looked at the boats and then wandered off,” said Matt Lindbald, MIT sailing coach.

7NEWS hit the Charles on Thursday to find out where the seal has been and how he may have gotten there. Folks at the aquarium think the seal somehow slipped through boat locks, which give boaters access to the river or Boston Harbor.

“We are gonna be just counting on the fact that he will probably make an exit this weekend because the locks at the dam are gonna be open a lot. A rescue attempt woul dprobably cause the seal more stress than is good for him,” said Tony Lacasse, New England Aquarium spokesperson. 

While the seal is causing quite a splash, the aquarium wants to remind people they are still wild animals, so if you are heading to the head of the Charles Regatta this weekend and do see the seal, stay away!

“Sometimes people will see a seal and throws rock at it to try and get it to move. That’s harassment and violation of federal law,” said Lacasse.

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