Massachusetts waters host various seal populations year-round, offering unique observation opportunities. Seals are a common sight along the coastline, engaging in natural behaviors like resting on shores and foraging. This guide covers the types of seals found in Massachusetts, prime viewing locations, and guidelines for responsible observation.
Seal Species in Massachusetts
Two species of seals are considered year-round residents in Massachusetts: the harbor seal and the gray seal. Harbor seals are smaller, measuring about 5 to 6 feet in length and weighing between 180 to 370 pounds. Their coats vary in appearance, often displaying mottled patterns of brown, gray, or even reddish hues, and they possess a distinct dog-like snout. Harbor seals are frequently spotted resting on rocks or sandbars.
Gray seals are larger, with males reaching up to 8 feet and over 800 pounds, while females are smaller at about 7 feet and under 600 pounds. They are often recognized by their horse-like head profile and wide-set, W-shaped nostrils. Male gray seals tend to have darker coats with fewer light spots, contrasting with females that are generally lighter with irregular dark blotches. Gray seals are highly social and frequently gather in large groups on quiet beaches for rest and breeding.
Beyond these resident species, less common visitors such as harp seals and hooded seals can occasionally be seen, primarily during the winter and spring months. Harp seals, often juveniles, are identifiable by their light gray or white coats with dark patches that can form a harp-like pattern on adults. Hooded seals are rare, with males distinguished by an inflatable hood on their nose.
Prime Locations for Seal Spotting
Monomoy Island, off the coast of Chatham, stands out as a premier destination for seal viewing in Massachusetts, particularly for large concentrations of gray seals. Boat tours frequently visit this area, allowing for close-up views of seals lounging on sandbars, especially during low tide when more land is exposed. Tens of thousands of seals visit the Cape during September and October, with many heading to Monomoy Point.
On the mainland, the Chatham Fish Pier offers an accessible observation deck where seals often gather, especially as fishing boats return with their catches. Chatham Lighthouse Beach also provides opportunities to view seals hauling out on nearby sandbars. Many Atlantic Ocean beaches between Chatham and Provincetown, including Coast Guard Beach and Race Point Beach, are reliable locations for spotting seals along the shoreline.
Further north, seals can be observed in Gloucester Harbor, often resting on rocks near Stage Fort Park or Dolliver’s Neck. The Boston Harbor Islands, such as Calf and Hangman’s, also host seal populations. In the Merrimack River mouth, seals can be seen basking on Badgers Rocks from Salisbury Beach Reservation. During the colder months, from October to May, Buzzards Bay also sees an increase in harbor seal populations, with seals frequenting rocky shores and piers in various coves and harbors.
Responsible Seal Observation
Observing seals requires adherence to responsible practices to ensure the well-being of the animals and human safety. Maintain a distance of at least 150 feet (approximately 45 meters) from seals at all times. Approaching too closely can cause stress to the animals, potentially altering their natural behaviors.
Seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a federal law that makes it illegal to harass, feed, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal. Harassment includes any act that has the potential to disturb a marine mammal’s behavioral patterns, such as migration, breathing, nursing, or feeding. Violators of this act can face penalties. Seals are wild animals and can bite if they feel threatened, and their bites can transmit serious infections or diseases.
If you encounter a seal on a beach, recognize that seals frequently “haul out” or come ashore to rest, digest food, or warm themselves, which is a normal and necessary behavior. Not all seals on land are in distress. If a seal displays signs of stress, such as waving its flippers or rolling on its back, it indicates discomfort with human presence.
If you encounter a seal that appears injured, entangled, or abandoned, do not intervene. Do not attempt to touch, feed, move, or return the animal to the water. Keep pets leashed and away from the animal.
Instead, report the sighting to an authorized marine mammal stranding network. In Massachusetts, hotlines exist for different regions, such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) for Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts, or the New England Aquarium for areas from Salem to Plymouth. These trained responders are equipped and permitted to assess the situation and provide appropriate assistance.