NEWPORT, Ore. -- An injured seal pup found in a van near the Oregon Coast was recovering quite well at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Last month, a state trooper found the injured harbor seal pup in a car with a pit bull during a DUII arrest in Florence

Newport Aquarium/kgw.com photo

The Newport Aquarium released this photo of the recovering seal pup.

Police pulled over a van, driven by 24-year-old Matthew Lane, and said Lane handed over the seal pup. The young animal was wrapped in a towel and had multiple puncture wounds and infections, Hastings said.

Lane told police he and his brother had been walking on the beach when they saw the pup being attacked by larger seals, so they scared them off, and were looking for a veterinarian at the time, police said.

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Aquarium Director of Husbandry, Jim Burke reported Wednesday that the seal is swimming much of the day and is being fed without seeing people in an effort to prevent imprinting.

“Right now she eats 7 pounds of live fish in small quantities every day and her white blood cell count has dropped which means her infection is decreasing,” Burke said.

And she’s gaining weight. Burke said they hope to release her at 50 pounds if all goes well, but that will be determined by federal marine scientists.

“Most people are well intentioned, but it is still not in the best interest of the animal to pick it up or even go near it.” Burke said.

Officials said anyone who comes a cross such a find should call the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network at (541) 867-0446 or Oregon State Police.