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Blind harbor seal learns basic skills at SeaLife Center

Published 6:40 am Tuesday, January 27, 2015

This Jan. 20, 2015 photo shows Bryce, a blind harbor seal pup, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. The seal, rescued in December, was deemed unfit to be released back into the wild. (AP Photo/Alaska SeaLife Center, Jenna Miller)
This Jan. 20, 2015 photo shows Bryce, a blind harbor seal pup, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. The seal, rescued in December, was deemed unfit to be released back into the wild. (AP Photo/Alaska SeaLife Center, Jenna Miller)

SEWARD (AP) — A blind harbor seal is learning basic behaviors such as being fed by hand at an Alaska aquarium.

Officials at the Alaska Sea-Life Center in Seward say the pup, named Bryce, was rescued in late December in Homer, Alaska.

The veterinary staff at the center believes he suffered a head trauma, which caused his blindness.

Officials say in a release that Bryce is learning basic husbandry behaviors, such as hand-feeding and learning how to target based on audible cues when staff members shake a rattle in place of a target buoy.

Center staff members say he might have improving sight, but only in one eye.

Federal officials say Bryce can’t be released back into the wild, so he will stay at the center until a permanent home can be found.

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