Adorable, right? Harbor seals are a true seal. They swim using their rear flippers and caudal spine. This is different from a fur seal or sea lion. These animals primarily use their front flippers to propel themselves in water. Fur seals and sea lions also can rotate their rear limbs to walk on land. Harbor seals do not have this ability, and watching them crawl around on land is pretty hilarious.
Harbor seals can be found on both the west and east coasts of the United States. Populations are on the rise, and in the Puget Sound they are even reaching their carrying capacity, meaning the maximum number of animals their environment can sustain. Unlike other true seals, harbor seals go on foraging trips during pup weaning, leaving their pups behind on the beach. 'Tis the season for pups, so don't be alarmed if you see a pup alone on the beach! However, if you are concerned about a potential marine mammal stranding, the best thing to do would be to call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network (if you live in Washington) or a similar organization in your region. The following link is from NOAA and has stranding networks to contact by state: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/report.htm.
Here are some fun facts about harbor seals:
- A typical dive is about 3 minutes, but they can dive for as long as 30 minutes and as deep as 600 feet!
- While you or I might take in a big breath of air before going underwater, harbor seals (and many other diving marine mammals) breathe out before going underwater. This way they are not as buoyant, and a lot of oxygen is stored in their blood and tissues that they can use during the dive.
- Their whiskers (also known as vibrissae) are extremely sensitive, and are used to sense pressure differences and find their prey.
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