A wayward gray seal waddled into the parking lot of a Riverside beverage shop Sunday morning and waddled out with Southampton Town cops in pursuit before the chase ended and a marine rescue group took the animal in.

Southampton Police received a 911 call about 6:30 a.m. reporting a seal in the parking lot of Thrifty Beverage on Lake Avenue, south of Riverhead’s Main Street and the Peconic River, in the hamlet of Riverside. Police responded and the spooked seal crossed the street toward the Budget Host East End Hotel, authorities said. Officers were able to capture the seal after surrounding it, according to Southampton Town police.

The animal was captured by Southampton police and turned over to the Riverhead-based New York Marine Rescue Center. The animal is being evaluated and cared for by the rescue group and will be released at a later date, police said.

Police believe the animal was feeding on the alewives, fish that migrate upstream to spawn in the Peconic River.