Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida) with Sores

Observation by Richard Kuzuguk:

This ringed seal was taken in Shishmaref Inlet, approximately 3 miles up the staked trail to a 7-mile ice pond. There was no breathing hole present, the seal had traveled from the east of the stakes heading westward. There seems to be a BB-sized lump on one of the forearms, and showing evidence of sores on one side flipper. Hopefully, this seal will bring us closer to understanding what may be causing the illness and disease that our marine mammals are being affected by. According to researchers, this is only the second seal that is discolored. The other came from Russia, colored orange. I will be shipping it out with the next available flight as discussed. Gay Sheffield (Marine Advisory Agent, Nome) is going to share the lab results soon as she gets them.

Gay Sheffield, Marine Advisory Program Agent with the Bering Strait UAF Sea Grant, writes:

Typically, older bearded seals can be stained on face, chest, and flippers - not always, though. This is caused by iron concentrations in the sediment where they feed. For more information see: Rust-colored Bearded (Erignathus barbatus) and Ringed (Phoca hispida) Seals from Svalbard, Norway, Christian Lydersen, Kit M. Kovacs and Espen Lydersen; Journal of Mammalogy Vol. 82, No. 1 (Feb., 2001), pp. 225-230. Source: Sea Grant Alaska, Marine Advisory Program

NOTE: This seal has not yet been associated with the ongoing illness that is causing an Unusual Mortality Event in northern sea mammals. Confirmation is pending lab results.