Species · GBIF taxon 2434793
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulinaAlso known as Common Seal
Harbor seals spend their days transitioning between foraging in shallow coastal waters and hauling out onto rocky shores, sandy beaches, or ice floes to rest and digest. These solitary hunters rarely interact with one another onshore, maintaining a strict personal space of a few feet, yet they form loose, watchful groups to guard against predators. Pups are born well-developed and can swim within hours of birth, often riding on their mothers' backs in the surf.
MarinePinnipedCoastal
- diet
- Carnivorous, feeding on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans
- family
- Phocidae
- threats
- Entanglement in fishing gear, water pollution, vessel strikes, and human disturbance
- life Span
- 20 to 30 years
LC
Can deliver a severe bite if cornered or approached; maintain a distance of at least 150 feet.
Protected by federal laws like the Marine Mammal Protection Act, they are highly sensitive to human disturbance, which can cause mothers to abandon pups.
Maintain a respectful distance of at least 150 feet and keep dogs leashed to prevent flushing them into the water.- Keep Your Distance: Stay at least 150 feet (45 meters) away to avoid causing stress or flushing them into the water.
- Watch for Pups: Never touch or move a pup left alone on the beach, as its mother is likely foraging nearby.
- Use Binoculars: Observe their natural behaviors, like banana-posing, safely from afar using telephoto lenses.