Harbor seals belong to the family of true seals. These seals lack the external ear pinna and have fairly restricted movement on land. Their hind limbs are not hinged, therefore they cannot rotate them under their bodies when on land. The forelimbs are relatively small and do not support the upper body. As a result, a seal’s movement on land consists of flopping along on its belly. Harbor seal movement on land is called galumphing. This contrasts sharply with the upright mobility of sea lions on land. 

Harbor seals inhabit the ocean shores of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in the northern hemisphere. They appear to be less nomadic than other pinnipeds. They stay close to shore and often haul out on sandbars in bays and estuaries, feeding mainly on small fish, mollusks, and crustaceans in near-shore waters. Atlantic harbor seals migrate into Long Island Sound during the colder months of the year.   On rare occasions, they have been seen during the summer. 

The average lifespan of a harbor seal is 25 -30 years, but often over 30 years under human care.  One of the Maritime Aquarium's original seals, Susie, was almost 43 years old at the time of her passing. 

Conservation 

Seals have been residents of this area for centuries, but for a time it was very difficult to spot them, as they were hunted, mostly for their fur, skin and fat. By the early 1970's. there was a lot of evidence that some species of seals, as well as other marine mammals, were in true danger of extinction. In response, the United States passed two landmark laws - The Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972 and the Endangered Species Act in 1973. Together these laws prevented the capture, killing, sales of products, and harassment of all marine mammals and many other species in the United States. (Permits may be granted for things like scientific study, public display, photography, and to indigenous people who hunt seals for survival and not commercially). These laws are still in effect today and as a result. seals, whales, and other species have rebounded within the United States. The Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Acts are a main reason that we see seals and other animals returning to the Long Island Sound habitat.

     With an increase in population there has been an increase in seeing seals on beaches. Some animals may be in distress and considered stranded - others may be resting. The Mystic Marine Life Aquarium is licensed by the National Marine Fisheries Bureau to handle strandings in Connecticut and Rhode Island. On the New York side of Long Island Sound, the Riverhead Foundation, in Hampton Bays, Long Island, responds to strandings. The Riverhead Foundation has a rehabilitation center where stranded whales and seals are placed. While you may want to help a stranded seal, you shouldn't touch them. Seals are mammals and can transmit disease, and they do bite. It is also illegal to touch or harass a marine mammal. You must maintain a distance of 150 feet if you see an animal on the beach.

But even though seals are well protected in the Sound today, factors such as climate change, pollution and habitat destruction may still pose significant threats in the future. Climate change has already affected many animals that live in Long Island Sound, such as lobsters.  Lobsters can now only be found in colder waters north of the Sound.  As waters continue to warm, we are not sure of the impact it will have on seals and the fish they eat.  Warming waters also bring stronger storms and increased flooding, which can wash pollution into the Sound and harm seals and other animals. 

Seal vs. Sea Lion
Our visitors will often confuse our seals as being sea lions.  There a few ways to tell the difference.
SEALS                                                                      SEA LIONS
No external ear flaps                                                Small external ear flaps
Short flippers (can't support body weight)                Longer flippers to support their bodies
Belly-flop movement (galumphing)                           Rotating pelvis enables walking on land
Mostly silent                                                              Barking
Shorter neck                                                              Longer, more flexible neck

The Maritime Aquarium's Seals
The seals at The Maritime Aquarium were either born under human care or found stranded on the shore.  Each seal has its own physical and behavioral characteristics.  
Our seals are fed multiple times each day. They are fed two types of fish: herring and capelin. The amount varies depending on the time of year. On average they are offered 6-9 lbs of fish daily. This can increase to 9-12 lbs in the fall and winter as they build up their blubber layers. They are fed out of the water (this ensures each receives the correct amount of food), receive daily vitamins and a monthly heartworm preventative. Once a year, each seal gets a complete physical.


Rasal
Gender: Female
Born: 1985 - Found as a stranded pup in Maine.  Rehabilitated at New England Aquarium.  
Arrived at TMA: 2005 (from Shedd Aquarium in Chicago)
Features: No spots around her front flippers.
Fun Fact: Former Navy seal trained to assist Navy divers
Fun Fact: Loves to interact with enrichments


Leila
Gender: Female
Born: 1988 - Abandoned as a pup. Rescued by a Maine fisherman.
Arrived at TMA: 1989
Features: Dark fur with tan spots.  Shorter snout.
Fun Fact: Least interested in enrichments and trainers' attention.
Fun Fact: Can sometimes be observed porpoising, meaning rapidly swimming and jumping out of the water.


Gracie
Gender: Female
Born: 2003
Arrived at TMA: 2022 (came from BioPark Zoo, originally a rescue from Marine Mammals of Maine)
Features: Very dark in color, one eye is visibly clouded. 
Fun Fact: She suffered a gunshot wound to her head that left her almost entirely blind. 

Feisty
Gender: Male
Born: 1990
Arrived at TMA: 2022 (came from BioPark Zoo, was born at Denver Zoo)
Features: Very Dark in color, Visibly bigger than the others particularly in his head, eyes are completely removed. Fun Fact: He had glaucoma as he got older, vets at Biopark Zoo decided it was best for his overall health to remove his eyes completely. 

Sono
Gender: Male
Born: April 5, 2023 at The Maritime Aquarium. 
Sono is the second harbor seal pup to be born at the Aquarium. The first pup was named Eve, who was born in 1989
Sono's parents are Gracie and Feisty





In Memoriam
Susie (1973-2016)

• Found in 1973 around the Gulf of Maine
• Lived at Mystic Aquarium until 1988, when she came to The Maritime Aquarium
• Tillie is her daughter.
• Susie, at the time of her passing, was one of the oldest seals in human care.

• Gender: Female
• Arrived at TMA in 2005 with Rasal and Ariel from the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

Video of Maritime Aquarium harbor seals in the old pool