MERR is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals and sea turtles

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MERR Institute, Inc.
P.O. Box 411
Nassau, DE 19969
(302) 228-5029

Marine Mammal of the Month

HARP SEALS - Phoca groenlandica

Harp seals, also known as Greenland seals, are one of the 4 species of seal that occur in Delaware waters during the winter months. Seals are semi-aquatic animals, so it is normal for seals to occasionally "haul out" and spend some time on land. Seals will do this for a variety of reasons, including the need to rest, pup, and moult (annual shedding of old hair).  Seals may also haul out because they are sick, injured, or weakened from lack of food. Sick or injured seals may be picked up by the stranding team and taken to a nearby rehabilitation facility. Healthy seals will be monitored on the beach until they return to the water. Remember to watch seals from a safe distance. Never approach a seal--this is stressful for the seal, and it also puts the beachgoer at risk of being bitten or exposed to potential disease.

Natural History

Physical description:  Adult harp seals are 5-6 feet in length and can weigh up to 300 lbs. Coloration is silvery-white with a black wishbone or harp shaped marking on the back and dark colored head. Pups are well known for their beautiful white coats, which occur at about 3 days of age. The stages of development that we most often see are "Beaters" ranging in age from 25 days to 1 year (they get this nickname from their behavior of beating the water with their flippers as they try to swim), and "Bedlamers" whose age ranges between 1-4 years. This name comes from the french bete de la mer (beast of the sea). During these stages, their coloration appears gray on the dorsal surface and silvery-white on the ventral surface with an inconsistent array of black brown spots of irregular shape and size. Seals mature at age 7 for males, and age 12 for females.

Behavior: These seals are less aggressive than others and are less apt to retreat from humans. When approached, they will often lift their head and follow observers with their eyes. Open mouth displays and vocalizations are signs that observers have apporoached too closely.

Pupping: Mother seals birth their pups on pack ice off eastern Canadian provinces from late February to Mid-march. Pups nurse for 12 days, on one of the richest of mammals milk. This causes them to nearly double their birth weight within a week.

Range: Northwest-Atlantic stock ranges from the Arctic to New Foundland, Labrador, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Population: 2 million.