A seal on the North Shore has become a local celebrity.
An unexpected visitor is delighting passersby at a pond in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Once word started spreading of a seal swimming in Shoe Pond, people went out of their way to catch a glimpse of the unlikely sight.
Jeannine Nash is one of many who has had the joy of watching the cute seal swim around the pond in Beverly for the past couple of days.
The Beverly Police Department confirmed it has received numerous calls about the seal that has taken up residence in the pond next to the police station on the Cummings Center property.
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The animal -- nicknamed "Shoebert" -- appears to be happy and healthy, according to police.
With Shoebert attracting so much attention to the pond, Beverly Animal Control is reminding people to remain on the outside of the fence surrounding the pond and to avoid feeding the seal or tossing anything in the water.
While Shoebert is very cute, he's still a wild animal and needs space, animal control said.
Animal control is also asking people to refrain from calling them and the police department to report the animal, as they are already aware, but they thanked people for their time and concern about this matter.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was contacted by animal control and has recommended the seal be left alone for now.
Both agencies are continuing to keep an eye on Shoebert to make sure everything is alright.
Shoebert does not appear to be in any distress and is able to go back into the river whenever he's ready, police and animal control added.
Though if Shoebert decides to cross the street instead, police have assured us they will be there to assist him.
One could say the animal has earned the police department's "seal" of approval: "Beverly Police Supports Shoebert!!!"
In the meantime, Shoebert is continuing to entertain pond visitors and has plenty of fish available to him during his temporary vacation -- he definitely won't go hungry!
No one knows how long Shoebert will stick around Shoe Pond, but animal control said Sunday that the now popular seal is still visiting with us and seems to be enjoying all of the attention.
