Brick police found a seal trying to cross the busy highway on Monday, Feb. 27,
Police were able to stop traffic and safely allow the seal to cross, they said.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, which responded with a volunteer and technician, said it's not the first time a seal has tried to cross Route 35 due to the close proximity of both the bay and ocean.
On Tuesday afternoon, the healthy seal pup was released back into the wild, the center said.
"Thank you to all of the drivers who pulled over while the Brick Township Police Department and our volunteer kept this little seal safe until our Stranding Technician arrived," the center said on Facebook.
"Typically we see at least one case of a wayward pup stranding in an unusual location every seal season," the center said. "These pups are born on islands, so when they get lost, their instinct is to keep wandering until they find a body of water. Please have our 24-hour stranding hotline ready, because you might need it when you least expect it! (609) 266-0538."
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