Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Species
- Phoca vitulina
Habitat
These seals inhabit coastal waters, estuaries, and tidal areas along the western Atlantic from the Canadian Arctic to the southeastern United States. They prefer shallow marine environments with easy access to haul-out sites like rocks, beaches, and sandbars for resting and breeding. Their range includes both rocky and sandy shorelines, allowing them to adapt to various substrates.
Diet
Western Atlantic common seals primarily eat fish such as herring, flounder, and cod, along with occasional crustaceans like shrimp and mollusks. They are opportunistic hunters, using their whiskers to detect prey in murky waters, and typically feed in shallow areas during dawn and dusk. Their feeding behavior involves diving to depths of up to 500 meters, though most hunts occur closer to the surface.
Behavior
These seals are generally solitary but form groups on haul-out sites for resting and molting. They are diurnal, spending mornings and evenings hunting in water and afternoons basking on land, with males occasionally displaying aggressive behaviors during mating season. They exhibit curiosity towards humans and boats but are quick to flee if threatened, and they use vocalizations like grunts for communication.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status for the harbor seal, including the Western Atlantic subspecies, is Least Concern, with stable populations overall. Major threats include habitat loss from coastal development, entanglement in fishing gear, and pollution, though enforcement of marine protected areas has helped mitigate some risks.