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May 2, 2022 · Harbor seals cannot move their hind flippers like sea lions, so they have an awkward gait on land that resembles a caterpillar moving. Adults are around 5 to 6 feet long, weigh between 180 and 285 pounds, and live up to 30 years. They are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Mothers give birth to one pup during the spring.
- Harbor Seal
Mother harbor seals sometimes raise their pups in...
- Harbor Seal
- Gestation
- Pupping Season
- Frequency of Birth
- Pups at Birth
- Care of Young
- Pup Growth and Development
Harbor seals have a total gestation of about 9 to 11 months.Gestation includes a period of delayed implantation: when the fertilized egg divides into a hollow ball of cells one layer thick (blastocyst), it stops growing and remains free-floating in the uter...Delayed implantation gives the mother time to recover from her last pregnancy. It also assures that the ensuing pup will be born when environmental conditions are optimal for its survival.Implantation of the blastocyst may be triggered by hormonal changes at the end of the molting season.Although most pups are born in February through July, the pupping season varies widely among the regional populations.Harbor seals of the northern Pacific population give birth from May to July. Farther south, the pupping season becomes progressively earlier; in Baja California, the season is February and March.Harbor seals inhabiting the coasts of British Columbia and Washington give birth from June to September.Females generally give birth to one pup each year. Multiple births are extremely rare, but twin fetuses have been documented.
Pups are about 75 to 100 cm (30-39 in.) and weigh 8 to 12 kg (18-26 lb.).Pups are well-developed at birth. Their eyes are open and they can swim and follow their mothers.Nursing.The female is an attentive parent during the nursing period. She noses the pup often. The pup may ride on her back, nip at her flippers, and chase her through the water.Females recognize their own pups by vocalizations and by smell.After her pup is weaned, a mother shows no interest in the pup.A pup learns to catch and eat shrimp and bottom-dwelling crustaceans after it is weaned. Later, it learns to catch fish.Pups do not wander far from adults.Apr 19, 2022 · Mother harbor seals sometimes raise their pups in nurseries—groups of mothers and their young—that help protect the seals from predators. The harbor seal’s diet consists mainly of fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Harbor seals complete both shallow and deep dives while hunting, depending on the availability of prey.
- Mammalia
- Chordata
- Carnivora
Life cycle. Female harbour seals have a lifespan of 30 to 35 years, while males have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years. Both can reach a length of 1.85 metres as adults and weigh about 110 kg. Pups are born annually on shore. Pupping season varies by location, occurring in February in lower latitudes, and as late as July in the subarctic zone.
Behavior. They are usually solitary but do congregate during the pupping and molting season. They do not exhibit any social structure during this time. Harbor seals are diurnal. They like to spend their resting periods usually in areas familiar to them. These sites are usually within 20 miles from the shore.
- Mammalia
- Chordata
- Carnivora
Harbor seal. Unlike other seal species, harbor seal mothers hunt while nursing and leave their pups alone on land. When they return, they find their pup by listening for their unique call and when they get close enough sniff out their pup's distinctive scent. (NOAA) Other names: Common seals; harbour seals; sea dogs. Adult. Pup. Maximum length.
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How do harbor seals find their pups?
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What if you see a seal pup on its own?
When are harbor seal pups born?
DON’T PUT PUPS BACK IN THE WATER. Seal pups need to rest and warm up out of the water. This is critical to their survival. All seals spend roughly 50% of their day on shore. Don’t worry about the tide - a pup can swim immediately after birth. DON’T LET DOGS NEAR SEAL PUPS. Disease can be transmitted. Disturbance can cause abandonment.
