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Necropsy Revealed Severe Infection After Harbour Seal Died During Recovery From Gunshot Injuries

Wild harbour seal in Puget Sound, Washington
Conservation · Threats

An adult female harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) died on 22 May 2026 after about three months of treatment for a gunshot injury at the SR3 SeaLife Rescue Center in Washington, USA State. A post-mortem examination found a severe sinus infection and affected bone around injuries caused by the projectile.

The seal, named Eggs Benedict or “Benny” by her carers, was first observed on a dock in Hood Canal on 19 February. She was lethargic, extremely underweight and had a nasal infection and an injured eye. Center Valley Animal Rescue transported her to SR3, where an X-ray the following morning showed that wounds to her face had been caused by a projectile.

A CT scan confirmed trauma to the nose but found no injury considered immediately life-threatening. SR3 treated the seal for malnutrition, infection and pain. A second CT scan six weeks later showed stable trauma and improvement in the eye, and staff believed she was continuing to recover.

Her appetite then declined. Staff provided fluids beneath the skin and tube-fed puréed fish while monitoring her condition. On 22 May, new X-rays revealed a large abscess below the molars, and surgery to remove the affected tooth was being planned. The seal appeared alert during a check but died about 20 minutes later.

A post-mortem examination the next day found that fractures were healing, but infection remained in the surrounding tissue despite antibiotic treatment. Earlier bloodwork had not indicated an active infection. Bone remodelling in the left cheek was also less healthy than earlier diagnostic images had indicated, and the most significant finding was a severe sinus infection with affected surrounding bone. SR3 concluded that the seal ultimately died from the injuries. The recovered projectile was transferred to NOAA law enforcement.

Sources and image credit

  1. Hruby, K. (2026, May 26). Another seal lost from human violence. SR3 SeaLife Response + Rehabilitation + Research.Primary case account published 26 May 2026. SR3 documents the wild adult female harbour seal found in Hood Canal on 19 February, the projectile-related facial injuries, approximately three months of treatment, death on 22 May, necropsy findings of severe sinus infection and affected bone around the injuries, and transfer of the recovered projectile to NOAA law enforcement.

Image: Mrkoww / Wikimedia Commons — wild harbour seal in Puget Sound, Washington, USA, 28 June 2024; representative regional species image, not the seal from the Hood Canal case · CC BY 4.0 · Source

About this content: This story was produced with AI assistance within an editorial workflow developed by Wildlife Vagabond. Editorial responsibility remains with Wildlife Vagabond.How AI is used

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