Boots is 35 and thriving. The key to her longevity? Clean eating, plenty of sunbathing, and the highest quality care a seal can get.
In nature harbor seals typically live into their late teens, while those in human care can live well into their twenties. Boots has long surpassed those expectations.
The mammalogists at Oregon Coast Aquarium are well-versed in geriatric care. The five harbor seals residing at OCAq receive specialized treatment to mitigate the aches and pains that come with age, such as arthritis and cataracts.
Eye conditions are common among harbor seals over the age of 20, and Aquarium staff conduct daily medical checks to get a closer look and address any concerns. The pinnipeds are trained to participate in their own care, lying down on cue and holding specific poses during exams, accepting eye drops and other medicine as necessary. While all five of the Aquarium’s seals are visually impaired, they can navigate with ease using their other senses.
When Boots showed signs of discomfort in her left eye, the mammalogists worked alongside veterinary staff to investigate. They determined Boots’ eye was causing her undue pain and, to improve her quality of life, it was best to remove it entirely.
The procedure was led by Dr. Cassandra Bliss of Bliss Animal Eye Care and WilVet Salem’s Dr. Dan Lewer and Dr. Anna Wepprich. Supported by a team of veterinary technicians and mammalogists, Dr. Bliss worked quickly as the others trimmed nails, drew blood, and monitored Boots closely.
Dr. Bliss carefully removed the eye, gingerly placing it in a sterile container. The specimen would be sent to a pathology laboratory for analysis, with the hope of gaining further insight on the root cause of Boots’ eye pain.
Once the procedure was finished, Boots groggily awoke to a chorus of quiet praise and encouragement—the happy chatter of her fan club, prepared to take her behind-the-scenes for rest and recovery.
After two weeks of round-the-clock monitoring in a dry holding area, Boots returned to the water—a milestone worth sealebrating. Her caretakers report that she is healing well, and is expected to rejoin the seals and sea lions in the main habitat just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
