"The animals unfortunately suffer": Marine wildlife experts urge beachgoers to leave animals alone

Beachgoers will often walk right up to seals, sea lions and sea turtles with what they think are harmless intentions — especially if they want the perfect picture or believe the animal is injured and they can help. But their actions cause more harm than they realize, marine life experts said.

Willow, a 7-month-old gray seal pup, was rehabilitated at the Wildlife Rehab Center on New York's Long Island after getting hit by a boat. The incident left her with a fractured shoulder and deep cuts on her back.

Maxine Montello and her team at the New York Marine Rescue Center also worked to rehabilitate a male seal named Cedar, who was found with a badly infected flipper.