Lena Torres
Harbor seals are the most common marine mammal in Puget Sound, and they can be spotted year-round. They are distinguished from fur seals and sea lions by their lack of external ears. Harbor seals have large eyes, long necks, and sharp front teeth. They feed on a variety of fish species, including pollack, flounder, cod, and salmon, and can dive up to 1,000 feet for 23 minutes while hunting. Harbor seals were once hunted but are now protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and their populations are stable or increasing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Harbor Seals |
| Scientific name | Phoca Vitulina |
| Region | Pacific Northwest, North Pacific, North Atlantic |
| Puget Sound Population | 1,500 |
| Puget Sound Population Trend | Increasing |
| Washington Inland Waters Population | Over 12,000 |
| Puget Sound Status | Most commonly seen marine mammal |
| Diet | Fish (Herring), Pollack, Flounder, Cod, Salmon, Squid, Octopus, Milk |
| Predators | Bigg's Killer Whales |
| Habitat | Coastal, Estuarine, Inland Waterways, Lakes |
| Behavior | Sleep on land or underwater, Rest on land, Vertical rest in water, Swim at birth |
| Protection | Marine Mammal Protection Act |
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What You'll Learn
Harbor seals are the most common marine mammal in Puget Sound
These seals are found in coastal and estuarine areas throughout the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans. They are also known to frequent inland waterways and lakes. Harbor seals can be spotted year-round in Puget Sound, particularly along rocky shorelines exposed at low tide. They are often seen hovering at the water's surface, with their heads and bodies visible. Harbor seals spend equal time on land and in the water. They haul out on land to rest and give birth, typically at low tide.
The harbor seal population in the inland waters of Washington is estimated to be over 12,000, with approximately 39,000 seals in the Strait of Georgia. In the 1990s, the population was around 32,000, and now it is closer to 40,000. Harbor seals in Puget Sound feed on a variety of fish species, including sculpins, herrings, pollack, flounder, and cod. They are known to dive up to 1,000 feet while hunting and can stay underwater for up to 23 minutes. Harbor seal pups are capable of swimming at birth and are nursed on milk that is high in fat (up to 42%), helping them build a blubber layer for warmth and buoyancy.
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Harbor seal diet in Puget Sound
Harbor seals are the most commonly seen marine mammal in Puget Sound. They are part of the “true seal" family called Phocidae, which means they lack external ear flaps. They have short forelimbs, which restrict their movement on land. Harbor seals eat about 7-10% of their body weight daily. They prey on several species of fish, including pollack, flounder, cod, herring, and salmon. They have also been known to eat squid and octopus. Harbor seals have been documented eating 77 different species of fish in the Puget Sound area.
In the South Puget Sound, the harbor seal diet is dominated by gadids (99%), including Pacific tomcod and Pacific hake. Clupeid species (69%) also make up a large part of their diet. Plainfin midshipman (47%) and flatfish (33%) are primary prey for harbor seals in this region. The San Juan Islands see harbor seals feed primarily on Pacific herring (57%). Gadid species and Pacific herring are important to the harbor seal diet year-round in the San Juan Islands and Hood Canal. Adult salmon is a significant food source in the summer and fall, while Northern anchovy is more common in the winter.
Harbor seals in Puget Sound have been observed to feed on a variety of fish species, including both solitary bottom fish like sculpins and midwater schooling species like herrings. Their dentition has adapted to a fish-based diet, with relatively large, sharp, and pointed molars and premolars that help them hold onto slippery fish. Harbor seals are known to dive up to 1,000 feet for as long as 23 minutes while hunting.
The population of harbor seals in the Puget Sound region has been stable, with around 32,000 individuals in the 1990s and closer to 40,000 in more recent years. The South Puget Sound population is estimated to be around 1,500. Harbor seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and their presence is considered a barometer of the health of Puget Sound.
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Harbor seal population trends in Puget Sound
Harbor seals are the most commonly seen marine mammal in the Pacific Northwest and can be found throughout the Puget Sound region year-round. They are easily distinguished from other seal species by their lack of external ears, earning them the nickname “earless seals". Harbor seals in Puget Sound feed on a variety of fish species, including sculpins, herrings, pollack, flounder, cod, and salmon, as well as squid and octopus.
Historically, harbor seal populations in Puget Sound were threatened by state-sanctioned population control programs that offered bounties for killing seals. These programs were discontinued in 1960 due to their ineffectiveness in improving commercial fisheries. Since then, harbor seals have been protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the United States and Canada. Despite this protection, harbor seals in Puget Sound continue to face threats such as human disturbance, habitat degradation, loss of prey, and interaction with fishing gear and boats.
The Washington Inland Waters Stock, which includes Puget Sound, is made up of three distinct populations: Southern Puget Sound, Washington Northern Inland Waters, and Hood Canal. As of 2023, the Southern Puget Sound population is estimated to be around 1,500, while the Hood Canal population is also around 1,500. The population in the San Juan Islands, part of the Northern Inland Waters, is approximately 11,000. While the San Juan Island population has been decreasing since 2013, the other two populations are increasing by about 10-12% annually.
Overall, harbor seal populations in Washington State have been relatively stable, with some evidence of continued growth in the South Puget Sound stock. The increase in harbor seal numbers has been attributed to the increased occurrence of Bigg's killer whales, which are their most significant predator in the Salish Sea. Despite being a prey item in over 50% of observed predation events by Bigg's killer whales, harbor seal populations have been able to withstand significant declines and remain within sustainable levels.
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Steller sea lion sightings in Puget Sound
Steller sea lions are found in the North Pacific Ocean, from central California to southern Japan, including the Bering Sea. They are considered "eared seals", and are the largest members of the family Otariidae, which includes all sea lions and fur seals. They are named after Georg Wilhelm Steller, a German surgeon and naturalist who first described the species in 1742.
In Puget Sound, Steller sea lions are typically seen during the non-breeding season, from autumn through spring. They use the area primarily as a feeding ground, with their breeding areas located further north, in British Columbia and Alaska. Aerial surveys from 2013 to 2016 suggest that about 110 Stellers are found in Puget Sound during the peak season (fall), with numbers reaching 600-700 within the whole of inland Washington waters.
The Eastern Stock of Steller sea lions, which includes the Puget Sound population, is increasing in numbers, with an annual growth rate of 4-5%. This contrasts with the Western Stock, which is considered endangered under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Eastern DPS was previously listed as threatened but has since recovered and is no longer listed.
Steller sea lions are vulnerable to various human-related threats, including fisheries-related mortality, illegal shooting, entanglement in fishing gear, and habitat degradation. They were heavily hunted in the past for their meat, hides, oil, and other products. Today, their main prey includes walleye pollock, Pacific hake, rockfish, skates, and various other fish and marine species.
Steller sea lions can be distinguished from harbor seals, the most common marine mammal in Puget Sound, by their larger size and external ears. Harbor seals are often seen floating at the water's surface with just their heads visible, displaying their big brown eyes and "whiskers". They are known to rest vertically in the water, curiously observing beachgoers.
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Elephant seal sightings in Puget Sound
In recent years, there have been increasing reports of elephant seals hauling out onto sandy beaches in the Puget Sound region, particularly on Smith, Protection, and Whidbey Islands. In 2010, a local breeding population established itself along the lower west side of Whidbey Island, known as the Mutiny Bay group. This group has continued to grow, with sightings of Ellie and her offspring, including a male pup born in March 2021 near Port Ludlow, and Elsie Mae, who gave birth to a male pup in northern Puget Sound in January 2022.
The increase in elephant seal sightings in Puget Sound is believed to be related to the overall growth of the Northern elephant seal population and changes in the climate. Wildlife agencies estimate that the population could now be near 100,000, and as their numbers expand, they may be venturing further north. Northern elephant seals have a range from Alaska to Mexico, and while they typically stay along the coast, some individuals have been known to venture into Puget Sound.
Elephant seals are difficult to spot as they spend most of their time in the water, diving thousands of feet deep to feed on squid and fish. When they are ashore, they can be territorial and move more quickly than expected for their size. Experts recommend keeping a safe distance of at least 100 yards when observing these animals.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, harbor seals are the most common marine mammal in Puget Sound. They are considered "true seals" and are distinguished from sea lions by their lack of external ears.
The population of harbor seals in Puget Sound is estimated to be around 1,500. However, the total population in the Salish Sea, which includes Puget Sound, is much larger at around 39,000.
You can spot harbor seals in Puget Sound all year round. You have a higher chance of seeing them when looking at rocky shorelines, especially rocks exposed at low tide. They can also be seen swimming in the water with their heads and bodies hovering at the surface.
