Seals are marine mammals often observed resting or foraging along coastlines worldwide. They spend significant time on land or ice to perform biological functions, making them accessible wildlife species for shoreline viewing. Understanding where these animals congregate and the factors that influence their behavior is the most effective way to observe them. This guide provides practical advice for locating seals and observing them safely and respectfully.
Identifying Prime Viewing Locations
Seals require specific coastal features to facilitate “hauling out,” which is when they leave the water to rest, regulate body temperature, molt, or give birth. These haul-out sites are the best places to find them, typically offering a safe, stable platform with easy access to the ocean for quick escape or foraging. Common geographical features used include intertidal ledges, exposed rocky reefs, and isolated sandbanks visible at certain tide levels.
Seals prefer locations that provide protection and minimal human disturbance, often choosing remote shorelines or small, uninhabited islands. The ideal site balances quiet, undisturbed rest with proximity to rich feeding grounds. Some seal populations also utilize human-made structures, such as floating docks, jetties, or breakwaters, particularly in harbors where natural haul-out options are limited.
Haul-out sites allow seals to rest, regulate temperature, and provide a secure place for mothers to nurse their pups. These sites must also offer an unobstructed path back to the water for safety and predator avoidance. When searching, look for areas separated from heavy boat traffic or frequent beachgoers, as seals will abandon sites that experience intense disturbance.
Timing Your Viewing Experience
The presence of seals is dependent on temporal factors, including the daily tidal cycle, the time of day, and the annual season. For seals using intertidal resting spots like sandbars or rocky shorelines, the best viewing often coincides with low tide. Low tide exposes the maximum amount of suitable dry land for hauling out, increasing the number of animals visible from the shore.
Conversely, in locations where seals use structures like floating docks available regardless of water level, their presence may not correlate directly with low tide. In these non-tidal-dependent sites, the number of hauled-out seals sometimes increases with rising tide height. Across many populations, the number of seals visible on land tends to peak in the late morning or early afternoon, especially when low tide occurs during those hours.
Seasonal changes also influence seal visibility, with the highest numbers often observed during the pupping and molting seasons. The molting period, when seals replace their fur, requires them to spend extended time on land to keep their skin warm and maximize hair growth. This annual event, which often occurs in the summer or early fall, provides a reliable window for observing large groups.
Ethical Guidelines for Seal Watching
Once seals have been located, responsible viewing practices are necessary to ensure the animals’ welfare. A general guideline is to maintain a distance of at least 50 yards, or about 150 feet, from seals on the shore or in the water. This buffer prevents disturbance and is a minimum requirement; a greater distance is often better for the animal’s comfort.
Viewers should move slowly and quietly, as sudden movements, loud noises, or quick approaches can cause stress and prompt them to flee into the water. Signs that a seal is becoming agitated include increased vigilance, head turning, a change in posture from lying flat to becoming erect, or rapidly moving toward the water. If any of these behaviors are observed, viewers should slowly retreat to a greater distance.
Never attempt to feed seals, as this is harmful to their health and can cause them to lose their natural fear of humans. It is important to leave seal pups alone, even if they appear to be by themselves, as the mother is likely foraging nearby and human interference can lead to abandonment. If an animal appears injured, entangled, or in distress, contact local wildlife authorities or a marine mammal rescue hotline instead of attempting to intervene.