The seal named Chappy, which had been found flat on its stomach on a cold, snow-encrusted street in New Haven, Conn., had an intestinal disease, a necropsy showed. By Adeel Hassan Chappy ...

A Harp seal who was recovering nicely at a NJ marine mammal stranding center after being rescued from a beach, has suddenly died.

As an Arctic species, Harp seals often consume snow and ice for fresh water. When they haul out on beaches, sick, dehydrated, and stressed Harp seals may start eating sand, confusing it for snow.

Sick and dehydrated harp seals often confuse sand for snow on their native ice packs, the center says, which puts them at risk of gastric impaction. MMSC says the seal responded well to treatment ...