Beverly installs ‘seal crossing’ sign after Shoebert finds his way back to North Shore

BEVERLY, Mass. — The town of Beverly has installed a commemorative “seal crossing” sign in wake of Shoebert’s return to the North Shore.

The beloved gray seal was fitted with a tracker and released into the wild off Block Island in late September after a short stay at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. The wayward 235-pound aquatic mammal was initially taken into custody after he waddled from the pond to Beverly police headquarters.

Shoebert was then shipped to the Mystic Aquarium where the aquarium’s animal care team conducted blood tests, X-rays, and a full veterinary checkup before giving him a clean bill of health.

Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Program Sarah Callan says GPS tracker readings indicate Shoebert has since navigated his way back to Beverly. He did spend some time sightseeing around Block Island and exploring “little inlets and bays” along the shoreline before making the trek back north.

So, will Shoebert find his way back into Shoe Pond? That remains to be seen.

“Although we can all agree it’s safer for Shoebert to remain out at sea, should he decide to return to Shoe Pond, there’ll be plenty of excited fans to welcome him back,” noted Steve Drohosky, general manager at Cummings Center, the commercial office park where Shoe Pond is located.

There is now a yellow seal crossing sign visible on the grounds of the Cummings Center to commemorate the beloved mammal’s infamous jaunt from Shoe Pond to Beverly police headquarters in the dead of the night.

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