Table of Contents
What kind of seals live in Massachusetts?
The gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) and the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) are the predominant species of seal found in Massachusetts waters.
Are there seals in Massachusetts?
Seals are common in Massachusetts year-round. There are a number of different species that you may encounter while visiting Gloucester, and you can find information on some of the more commonly seen species here.
Do seals live in Massachusetts?
Over the past thirty years, gray seals have repopulated southeastern Massachusetts where they once were present prior to seal bounties. This expansion in their range along the Northwest Atlantic has led to a greater number of seals present in our local waters .
What type of seals are in New England?
The seal species commonly seen in New England’s coastal region are harbor, gray, harp, and hooded. Whales, harbor porpoise, and Atlantic white-sided dolphins frequent the Gulf of Maine, but rarely strand on the beach.
What kind of seals Cape Cod?
There are two similar species of seals that inhabit the Cape and Islands—gray and harbor seals. Adult gray seals can weigh between 550 and 850 pounds and are on the Cape year-round. Adult harbor seals weighing between 100 and 300 pounds are seasonal residents on the Cape between September and May.
What kind of seals are in Boston Harbor?
Seals have long attracted human interest with their dog-like appearance and ability to seamlessly move between land and sea. Boston Harbor and its islands are home to harbor (Phoca vitulina concolor) and gray (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) seals.
Where are the seals in Massachusetts?
Get the Full Experience With Cape Cod Seal Tours
- Monomoy Island Excursions.
- Monomoy Island Ferry.
- Beachcomber Boat Tours.
- Outermost Harbor Marine.
- Blue Claw Boat Tours.
- Throughout Chatham.
- Nauset Beach in Orleans.
- Coast Guard Beach in Eastham.
Are there wild seals in Boston?
There are two species of seals that spend all their time in Massachusetts’ waters, and a few others that stop by during migration.
What kind of seals are on Cape Cod?
What kind of seals are in Chatham Ma?
Harbor seals hauled out in a remote sandy area in Chatham, Massachusetts. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries. Harbor seals: There are an estimated 75,000 harbor seals from eastern Canada to North Carolina. Their breeding season is May through June, primarily in Maine.
What is the difference between a grey seal and a Harbour seal?
Harbour seals are usually fairly uniformly spotted while grey seals have more obviously contrasting pale bellies and darker grey backs, with larger more irregularly shaped spots and blotches. Male grey seals have darker coats than females.
Are there seals in Boston?
Where can I see seals in Massachusetts?
To see Cape Cod seals on the mainland, head to Chatham Fish Pier. You can usually see seals from the observation deck as the fishermen return home and throw out unused bait. While you watch, you can eat some chowder, lobster bisque, lobster rolls, and other fresh seafood from the Chatham Pier Fish Market.
What is the difference between a GREY seal and a Harbour seal?
What type of seals are in Chatham?
Although up to four species of seals live in the region, primarily two are most commonly seen in Chatham waters – the harbor seal and the gray seal. The smaller harbors seal at up to 250 pounds, is a seasonal visitor that migrates in and out of the area.
How do you tell a seal from a grey seal?
The common seal can be distinguished from the grey seal by its smaller size and shorter head with a more concave forehead. Common seals have V-shaped nostrils. They are very variable in colour, from blonde to black, but generally grey with dark spots.
How do I identify a harbor seal?
Harbor seals have short, dog-like snouts. The color of each seal’s fur varies but there are two basic patterns: light tan, silver, or blue-gray with dark speckling or spots, and a dark background with light rings.
Where are the grey seals in Cape Cod?
As mentioned, the majority of the seals hang around Monomoy Island, which is about 9.5 miles from the mainland and only accessible by boat. To see Cape Cod seals on the mainland, head to Chatham Fish Pier. You can usually see seals from the observation deck as the fishermen return home and throw out unused bait.
What’s the difference between a common seal and a grey seal?
What is the rarest seal in Massachusetts?
Hooded Seal: Cystophora cristata: Extremely rare in Massachusetts. Young-of-the-year are uncommon visitors from the far north. Adults are very rare. May occur in any coastal town. Bearded Seal: Erignathus barbatus: Extremely rare in Massachusetts. One adult female in Gloucester, Essex County in 2002. Grey Seal: Halichoerus grypus
Where can I see harbor seals?
Harbor seals are one of the most common marine mammals along the U.S. West and East Coasts. They are commonly seen resting on rocks and beaches along the coast and on floating ice in glacial fjords with their head and rear flippers elevated in a “banana-like” position.
What is the history of the Massachusetts state seal?
The present rendition of the seal was drawn by resident-artist Edmund H. Garrett, and was adopted by the state in 1900. While the inscription around the seal is officially in Latin, a variant with “Commonwealth of Massachusetts” in English is also sometimes used.
Why are harbor seals protected in Washington State?
About the Species. State-financed bounty hunters once hunted harbor seals in Washington and Oregon because they were considered competitors of fishermen. This hunting program ended in 1960. Harbor seals, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.