Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

 

 

 
In 1997-98, the staff conducted extensive harbor seal surveys to document animal populations and timing of pupping at flight costs of about $7,000. These surveys were coordinated with WDFW and National Marine Fisheries Service.

 
Identification: Head and body to five feet, weight to 255 pounds. Iron-gray in color with brown spots, brown with gray spots, or uniform silver-gray or brownish black. Habitat: Coastal waters, mouths of rivers, and inland lakes, spends much of time onshore. Habits: Often seen at mouths of rivers and in shallow harbors. Has limited seasonal movements. Can remain under water for 20 minutes. Feeds on fish, shellfish, and squid. Females first breed at two years of age. Young: Born on land in early summer; gestation period more than nine months. Pup bluish gray above whitish below when born. Range: Arctic; south to Hudson Bay, along Atlantic and Pacific coasts.