Seals sometimes eat sand when stranded on beaches, confusing it for the snow and ice they usually consume to stay hydrated, officials said. The seal responded well when sand was flushed out of its ...

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 ...