Oregon seal pup stabbed multiple times as NOAA seeking to track down person of interest

An elephant seal pup suffered "multiple stab wounds" successful an onslaught astatine an Oregon beach, prompting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to motorboat a hunt for a idiosyncratic of interest. 

The NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement said this week that the incidental happened connected March 16 successful Neskowin, Oregon, on a agelong of shoreline successful beforehand of the Proposal Rock Condominiums. 

"While the young elephant seal survived, it sustained aggregate stab wounds. The Marine Stranding Team monitored and evaluated the carnal earlier relocating it," the NOAA said successful a statement. 

The bureau released a sketch of a idiosyncratic of interest, described arsenic a White antheral "Approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a modular build, achromatic and achromatic hair, a groomed beard, and a ample spread betwixt his beforehand teeth." 

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The babe seal who the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said was stabbed connected an Oregon formation successful March, left, and the idiosyncratic of involvement who is being sought successful transportation to the incident. (Tiffany Boothe/Seaside Aquarium via AP/NOAA)

The NOAA, citing a witness, added that the idiosyncratic was wearing a "black headdress with a level beforehand and a logo depicting an orangish four-track excavator with the connection ‘Timber’." 

"We are besides seeking accusation astir the proprietor of a conveyance that whitethorn beryllium associated with the idiosyncratic of interest," the NOAA besides said, describing it arsenic a cluttered-looking acheronian bluish 1990s Dodge oregon Chrysler van that had the rear rider model connected the driver's broadside covered successful plastic. 

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The babe seal was relocated distant from the Oregon formation pursuing the stabbing, the NOAA said. (Tiffany Boothe/Seaside Aquarium via AP)

Following the attack, the seal’s wounds were healing, it had grown to astir 300 pounds and determination were nary signs that the stabbing was going to person "lasting effects," Michael Milstein, a spokesperson for NOAA Fisheries West Coast region, told The Associated Press. 

The seal that was stabbed apt near its parent precise precocious and was connected its ain to larn to hunt, Milstein said. Once it had grown a spot more, it would person apt made its mode backmost to breeding areas astir the Channel Islands disconnected Southern California. 

This photograph provided by Gregory G Miller shows a stabbed seal pup connected a formation successful Neskowin, Oregon, connected March 27, 2025 a time aft it was attacked. (Gregory G Miller via AP)

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The NOAA said "Harassing, harming, sidesplitting oregon feeding chaotic elephant seals is prohibited nether the Marine Mammal Protection Act" and "Violations tin beryllium prosecuted civilly oregon criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 successful fines and up to 1 twelvemonth successful jailhouse per violation." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.