Happy International Day of the Seal!
Have you ever spotted something big, but not a whale, swimming in the water and wondered what it could be? There are a few possibilities, but there’s a good chance it was a harbor seal!
Seals are pinnipeds, which is a fancy term for fin-footed aquatic mammals. Throughout the Salish Sea, you can see these 5-foot-long, 200 pound animals lounging on rocks, resting on beaches, bobbing at the surface or swimming gracefully through the water. Their mottled silver, tan, gray and black fur blends perfectly with the rocky Washington coastline, so they can be tricky to spot at first glance. Unlike some other marine mammals such as whales, harbor seals need to spend time out of the water to regulate their body temperature. They enjoy basking in the sun before heading back into the water to hunt and feed.
Harbor seals were heavily hunted in the past, but have bounced back thanks to protections like the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Today, they are among the most abundant marine mammals in the region, with thousands found at haul-out sites from Puget Sound to Vancouver.
Seals are incredible swimmers, reaching speeds of up to 12 miles per hour and holding their breath for up to 30 minutes. In fact, they are so comfortable in the water that they sometimes take naps while submerged. To avoid drifting away with the current while sleeping, they may wedge themselves between underwater rocks. However, in the Salish Sea, it’s good for them to remain alert because larger, hungrier predators are frequently nearby.
This area is home to two different populations of orca whales. The Bigg’s orcas are a population that feeds exclusively on marine mammals and often targets seals as a prevalent and reliable food source. Don’t worry, seals can be clever and sometimes escape predation by hiding in crevices or even leaping onto the backs of boats. On the other hand, encounters with the other population of orcas, the Southern Resident orcas, are safe for seals. These orcas feed only on fish.
You may also encounter a couple other seal-like animals in the Salish Sea. For example, sea lions, such as Steller sea lions, are much larger and noisier pinnipeds. Unlike seals, sea lions are able to “walk” on land by lifting their massive bodies with their long front flippers. Seals are unable to rotate their flippers beneath their body and subsequently, cannot walk on land. They can only flop!
You may also spot an otter. Unlike seals and sea lions, otters rely on thick fur rather than blubber to stay warm. River otters can be found romping around on land or swimming on their stomachs with long skinny tails trailing behind them. Sea otters are fairly rare in the area but prefer swimming on their backs, paddling with their large back feet and rarely going on land.
There’s so much to see in the Salish Sea! If you spot a seal near the City Pier in Port Angeles, don’t be shy, say “Hi Bob!” This might be the local seal celebrity who earned the name from children of the Peninsula, who voted to officially call her Bob.
Hope to seal you around Feiro!
