Story Archive

Nosey

Charles Littnan, the lead scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, got an email with the subject: “Eel in nose.” Wait... what? “It was just like, ‘We found a seal with an eel stuck in its nose’,” Littnan said. In the two years since, there have been “multiple” cases of juvenile Hawaiian monk seals with the last few inches of two and a half foot eels hanging from their nostrils. Researchers were able to pull them out without harming the seals; all the eels, though, died. Scientists aren’t sure how it’s happening. One theory: “It almost does feel like one of those teenage trends that happen,” Littnan said. “One juvenile seal did this very stupid thing and now the others are trying to mimic it.” He urges the seals to “make better choices.” (MS/Washington Post) ...But all they really want is his seal of approval.