Harbour
Seals
Harbour seals,
or harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), are pinnipeds. They live
in the ocean, but, unlike whales, must spend part of their lives
on land. We often see single seals in the water, and we may see
groups of them hauled out on rocks.
 Harbour
seals are generally dark gray with lighter gray spots. Look for
small ear holes on the sides of the head. Ear holes are typical
of seals; sea lions have small, external ear flaps. While in the
water, all that shows is their head, looking a lot like a large
black labrador retriever. Seals will frequently dive as we approach,
then surface behind us and even quietly follow us for a distance.
If you sense that you are being watched, look around; it may be
a seal.
 Harbour
seals grow to six feet in length and 200 pounds. They are found
along the west coast from Baja to Alaska. They just need enough
fish to eat and a safe place to haul out. Females first give birth
at three to five years, then have a pup annually. Seals may live
up to thirty years. They will eat any kind of fish they can catch.
Harbour seals
can remain submerged for long periods of time (up to 28 minutes)
and dive to depths of 1000 ft. (300 m), however, they routinely
forage in shallower waters. Harbour seals feed
on squid, crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. An adult seal will typically
eat four to six pounds of food per day.
Though they
have a reputation among fisherman as being major competitors for
salmon and other commercially valuable fish, and are routinely shot
because of it, their total catch is a fraction of that of fishermen.
Seeing harbour
seals is certainly one of the great joys of kayaking the Inside
Passage. Their playful curiosity, especially toward kayakers, is
always a delight.
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