Unusual Mass. sight: Seal in Charles River

USA Today, Thursday, October 21, 2010

BOSTON (AP) — An unusual visitor is scouting the Charles River before this weekend's famous Head of the Charles Regatta.

A harbor seal has been spotted in the river between Boston and Cambridge this week by tour boat operators, boaters and the crew coach at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Seals are rarely seen in the freshwater Charles, but New England Aquarium officials said Thursday it likely slipped through boat locks that connect the river to Boston Harbor. They are asking anyone who sees the animal to stay at least 150 feet away.

The seal has been seen only in the lower Charles basin, away from the regatta site.

Officials say the regatta will increase recreational boating traffic along with activity at the locks and, they hope, give the seal more chances to return to sea.

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