Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)
Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina.
- Creator
- Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA
- License
- CC BY 2.0
Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)
Status: needs expert review. Conservation claims cite the IUCN Red List; a reviewer should confirm currency and subspecies detail before approval. The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) is a widespread coastal "true seal" of temperate and Arctic Northern Hemisphere shores.
At a glance
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Phoca vitulina | WoRMS / authority |
| Guild | pinniped (phocid / true seal) | — |
| IUCN status | Least Concern (species overall) | IUCN Red List |
| Population trend | Increasing since ~1970s; total ~600,000 | IUCN Red List |
| Range | Coastal North Atlantic, North Pacific, and adjacent Arctic | IUCN Red List |
Identification
A small-to-medium seal with a rounded head, V-shaped nostrils, and a coat of spots and rings on a grey-to-brown background; no external ear flaps (a "true" / phocid seal). On land it moves by caterpillar-like undulation; it cannot rotate its hind flippers forward like sea lions.
Ecology and behavior
Harbor seals haul out on rocks, sandbars, and beaches to rest, molt, and pup. They forage on fish and invertebrates in coastal waters. Pupping and molting seasons are sensitive periods. Behavioral specifics should be cited to published research and confirmed in review.
Conservation status and threats
The harbor seal is assessed Least Concern by the IUCN, with a total population around 600,000 and an increasing trend since the 1970s. However, some subspecies and regional populations face serious challenges (for example, a freshwater subspecies with very few individuals), and disease die-offs have killed thousands in some years. Report figures as the cited authorities state them; a reviewer should confirm subspecies specifics.
How to observe responsibly
This page does not provide approach guidance. Follow the reviewed observation guide and local marine-mammal viewing rules. Hauled-out seals — especially mothers and pups — must not be approached or disturbed; a disturbed seal that flushes into the water can abandon a pup. Keep well back, stay quiet, and leash dogs near haul-outs. Exact haul-out and pupping sites are kept to regional granularity (ETHICS.md).
How you can help
- Log sightings to a recognized citizen-science platform (see the iNaturalist dataset card) — without approaching haul-outs.
- Report stranded or entangled seals to the local marine-mammal stranding network rather than intervening yourself.
- Support coastal haul-out protection and disturbance-reduction programs.
Sources (2)
Every claim in this artifact traces to one of the citations below. Anything that could not be sourced was left out.
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