Facts
- Carnivore (prey includes fish, crustaceans, octopus, and squid)
- Habitat is shallow ocean water, sandy and pebble beaches, intertidal rocks and sandbars
- Coat color varies from black with white spots to white with black spots
- Do not have external ear flaps, but do have ear holes
- Adult males on average weigh 370 lbs, 6 ft long
- Adult females on average weigh 290 lbs, 5 ft long
- Mate in the water in August
- One pup born in April-May
- Mothers leave their pups on the beach while they forage for food
- Adults are typically not vocal, but may make grunting and snorting sounds to communicate
- Newborn pups vocalize with a repeated "maa" sound and growling noises
- Playful in the water; shy but curious
- Harbor Seal pups' natural predators in Southern California are coyotes, foxes and raptors
People and Pacific Harbor Seals
- Harbor Seals are very afraid of humans and will abandon favorite haul-out sites and/or pups due to human presence
- Pups waiting for their mother on the beach are often thought to be orphaned and are then disturbed by well-meaning humans
How to Coexist
- Law mandates that people stay 100 feet away from a harbor seal (whether on the beach or in the water).
- If you find a harbor seal pup on the beach, do not try to pour water on it or return it to the ocean.
- If a harbor seal appears sick or injured, contact the CWC Marine Mammal Rescue team to evaluate the health of the animal.
