# Harbor Seal (*Phoca vitulina*)

> The harbor seal is a true (earless) seal found along cool coasts across the Northern Hemisphere. It has a plump, spotted coat, no visible ear flaps, and large dark eyes. Harbor seals reach about 1.8 m (6 ft), live 25 to 30 years, and haul out on rocks and beaches to rest.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Temperate and Arctic coasts on both sides of the North Atlantic and North Pacific.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/harbor-seal/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Carnivora
- **Family:** Phocidae
- **Genus:** Phoca

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Phoca vitulina |
| Diet | Carnivore (fish, squid, crustaceans) |
| Habitat | Temperate and Arctic coastal waters |
| Lifespan | 25–30 years |
| Weight | 55–130 kg (120–290 lb) |
| Length | 1.5–1.9 m (5–6 ft) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## A true, earless seal

The harbor seal is a true seal, meaning it has no external ear flaps — just small ear openings — and short front flippers. On land it cannot bring its hind flippers under its body, so it moves with a caterpillar-like wriggle. In the water, though, it is a graceful diver, powered by side-to-side strokes of its hind flippers.

## Diving and feeding

Harbor seals are carnivores that hunt fish, squid, and crustaceans. They commonly dive for several minutes and can stay underwater for over twenty, slowing their heart rate to save oxygen. Their long, sensitive whiskers detect the water trails left by swimming fish, helping them hunt even in dark or cloudy water.

## Pups that swim within hours

Harbor seal mothers give birth to a single pup that can swim and dive almost immediately after birth. Pups nurse on extremely rich milk for around four to six weeks, gaining weight quickly before being weaned. Mothers often leave pups resting on shore while they forage nearby, so a lone pup is usually not abandoned.

## Habitat and range

Harbor seals are among the most widespread of all seals, living along temperate and Arctic shorelines on both sides of the North Atlantic and North Pacific. They favor sheltered bays, estuaries, and rocky coasts, where they haul out on rocks, sandbars, and beaches to rest between feeding trips.

## Conservation

Harbor seals are listed as Least Concern overall, though some regional populations are declining. Threats include entanglement in fishing gear, pollution, disease outbreaks, and disturbance at haul-out sites. People are advised to keep their distance from resting seals and pups rather than approaching or trying to rescue them.

## Frequently asked questions

### Are harbor seals the same as sea lions?

No. Harbor seals are true seals with no visible ears that wriggle on land, while sea lions have ear flaps and walk on rotated flippers. Seals are also generally quieter and more solitary.

### What do harbor seals eat?

Harbor seals are carnivores that feed on fish such as herring and cod, plus squid and crustaceans, locating prey with their highly sensitive whiskers.

### Should I help a seal pup alone on the beach?

Usually no. Mothers often leave pups ashore while feeding nearby. Keep well back, keep dogs away, and contact a licensed marine mammal rescue group if a pup looks injured or distressed.

### How long can a harbor seal hold its breath?

Harbor seals routinely dive for several minutes and can stay underwater for more than twenty by slowing their heart rate and conserving oxygen.

### How long do harbor seals live?

Harbor seals typically live 25 to 30 years in the wild, with females generally living longer than males.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Phoca vitulina.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Phoca%20vitulina&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Phoca vitulina. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phoca_vitulina/)
- [Wikipedia — Harbor Seal.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_seal)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/harbor-seal/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.