Cleaner waters and a (near total) ban on seal hunting means the pinniped population is rebounding, but they're still unusual enough to make New Yorkers notice — and often put in a call to wildlife and conservation organizations. But that might not be necessary, says Chuck Bowman, the president of the Riverhead Foundation. The foundation works with New York State to rescue stranded or injured marine life. "Seals haul out on beaches just to rest and take a sunbath and hang out," he said. "Doesn't mean that they're in trouble at all." But when people crowd around and take seal selfies, it can stress the animals out. Bowman says even if a seal is in distress, it needs its space — about 150 feet of it.  So give the animal a wide berth and call the Riverhead Foundation's 24-hour hotline at (631) 369-9829. The Rockaway seal is currently resting in one of the foundation's rehabilitation tanks. "I wouldn't be surprised if it just needed some peace and quiet," said Bowman. "And then we can release it back into the Atlantic."