Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
Harbor seals live along cool temperate and subarctic coasts, using beaches, rocks, sandbars, and ice as haul-out sites between feeding trips. They hunt in coastal waters for fish, squid, and crustaceans, relying on sensitive whiskers to detect prey movement in murky water. Usually cautious and solitary compared with many sea lions, they slip quietly into the water when disturbed. Pups can swim soon after birth, an important advantage in tidal habitats.
- Type
- Water
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- Harbor Seal Pup
- Harbor Seal