Pinniped Cove
- Grey seals range from mid- Atlantic and New England coastal waters to North Atlantic waters stretching across to the Baltic Sea. They share waters and are often seen with Harbor seals.
- According to NOAA Fisheries, “There are three stocks of gray seals worldwide: the western North Atlantic stock (eastern Canada and the northeastern United States), the eastern North Atlantic stock (Great Britain, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Russia), and the Baltic Sea stock. Grey seals can be found on rocky coasts, islands, sandbars, ice shelves, and icebergs.”
- 25-35 years in their natural habitat, human care can often double lifespans.
- Female adults can be up to 7.5 ft long and weigh about 550 lbs. Adult males are larger and can grow up to 10 ft long and weight up to 880 lbs.
- On average they can eat four to six percent of their body weight in food each day, but do not eat during the mating/pupping or molting seasons.
- Grey seals eat a wide variety of sea life based on their geographic location, age, and other factors. In general they hunt mostly fish including cod, haddock, pollock, herring, eels, whiting, hake, and other flatfish. Grey seals are fairly opportunistic carnivores so will also eat crustaceans, squid, octopuses, and sometimes even seabirds.
- At TMA our grey seal is fed herring and capelin with the addition of enrichment foods such as squid and unflavored unsweetened gelatin.
- Grey seals are in the true seal family which is defined largely by shorter flippers and a lack of external ear flaps.
- Female grey seals are silver in base color with the usual appearance of scattered dark gray spots while Males are darker gray with the appearance of silver spots. Similarly to harbor seals, coloration and visible spots varies from region to region and is often unique to each individual seal.
- A distinguishable characteristic of the male grey seal is its longer nose. Halichoerus grypus translates to hooked-nose pig of the sea used to describe this feature.
- Grey seals have an incredible sense of smell, hearing and use of their vibrissae (highly sensitive whiskers) which allows them to be great hunters in the water.
- They use their communication with each other to hunt in groups for easier hunting.
- Grey seals have a significant layer of blubber that insulates them from the cold waters. The seals circulatory system can shunt blood supply to the extremities allowing them to sit on ice caps without melting them.
- Grey seals have dense fur as well as water resistant fur to keep cold water out and allow them to swim more efficiently.
- Grey seals gather in large groups during mating season which varies based on region. Grey seals breed on ice or sandy beaches in parts of Canada (Gulf of St. Lawrence, Sable Island, Nova Scotia) and on sandy or rocky beaches or islands in the U.S., and in parts of the Baltic Sea Bulls produce a strong odor during the breeding season.
- After an 11 month gestation period a pup is born weighing about 35 lbs.
- According to NOAA Fisheries Females in the eastern Atlantic Ocean give birth from September to November, while females in the western Atlantic Ocean give birth from December to February. Females in the Baltic give birth in March.
- Newborn pups have white fur referred to as lanugo which serves as a protective layer and insulation. Many other cold weather seals have this adaptation. They loose this layer after about 3 weeks of intense nursing. They gain about 3 lbs per day from the extremely fatty and nutrient dense milk from their mother.
- Newborn pups make crying noises similar to a human baby so that their mother knows who they are and where to find them after a hunt.
- Different communication sounds include Males jackhammer, hiss and growl to display dominance and aggression. They also exhibit non-vocal communication, such as neck darts and open-mouthed threats.
- Like many seals, grey seals can be subject to w such as sharks and orcas.
- Like all marine mammals, grey seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. There are about 450,000 grey seals in the US and Canada waters alone.
- Even still, they face many threats including vessel strikes, bycatch, entanglement, poaching, Pollution- oil spills and other chemicals.
- Mikey is the first gray seal at TMA .He is one of 22 gray seals in accredited zoos and aquariums. This is a huge step in the development of pinniped cove and its goal to include multiple species creating an environment that closely mimics their natural habitat.
- Like all animals, Mikey had to go through quarantine to observe and make sure he did not have any health concerns before introducing him to other animals.
- Animal introductions to new environments and new animals takes time and patience. Animal care staff takes these processes step by step and every animal is different in how they progress so, there is not one process that works across every animal or even individual.
While harbor seals and gray seals are very similar, there are distinctive differences that you will be able to point out to guests. Take advantage of the fact that we have both in the exhibit to compare and contrast. This will allow guests to spend a longer time at the exhibit.
Size: Grey seals are larger than harbor seals with harbor seals being an average of 6 ft and 280 lbs.
Pupping: Major differences between grey and harbor seals concerns when, and how, they pup. Grey seals congregate above the high water mark on remote beaches and islands between September and December to pup. Females remain ashore for three weeks or so while suckling their white- coated pup. In contrast, harbor seals pup on intertidal sandbanks or rocks in June and July. Their pups are far more precocious. They are born with their spotted adult coat and will swim with their mothers within hours of birth (Sea Mammal Research Unit, St. Andrews University). This will not be able to be seen in our exhibit.
Behavior: Grey seals tend to haul out close together with other grey seals while harbor seals tend to fallout away from each other. This will not be able to be seen in our exhibit with the grey seal but may be able to be seen with multiple harbor seals.
Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)
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.
- Gender: Female
- Born: 1990 (National Aquarium in Baltimore)
- Arrived at TMA in 2005 with Rasal and Orange from the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
- Gender: Female
- Born: 1986 (Mystic Aquarium)
- Arrived at TMA: 1988 (With her mom "Susie")
- Features: Dark fur with a distinctive blond mark above her left eye
- Fun Fact: Has been here since the aquarium opened in 1988
- Fun Fact: She once kissed Paul Newman
- Gender: Female
- Born: 1987 (Mystic Aquarium)
- Arrived at TMA: 1994
- Features: Pink spot on the right side of her chest
- Fun Fact: Sassy disposition. Will often splash at trainers for attention.
- Fun Fact: All of her siblings had names that started with the letter P.
Video of Maritime Aquarium harbor seal training demonstration
Pinniped Cove
Pinniped Cove is The Maritime Aquarium’s newest and largest habitat. This exhibit holds 160,000 gallons of water and is 22 ft deep at the deepest point. Compared to our old seal exhibit, this new habitat is completely enclosed and provides guests with underwater and top side viewing of our seals.
Construction began in September 2019 and completed in May 2021 (20 months).
The behind-the-scenes area includes a new food preparation area and veterinary suites.
What to do if something falls into the exhibit?
If a guest drops and item into the exhibit, including the nets, the Gallery Ambassador should immediately call a code 2 "object in the pool" to animal husbandry on channel 3. A staff member from their team will come to retrieve the item. Most items are not returned to guests. If the item is of extreme value (phone, jewelry, etc.) animal husbandry will sanitize the item before returning it to the guest. Gallery Ambassadors should not attempt to retrieve items from the exhibit.
What if a person falls into the exhibit?
1. Throw the person the life ring located on the wall in the exhibit area
2. Called a CODE NOAH "A (Child/Adult/Infant) fell into the seal pool" on all channels
3. Call 911
If the Gallery Ambassador feels comfortable, can swim and the person is actively drowning, they can go into the pool to save the guest.
Training
Feeding & Training Demonstrations occur three times daily, 7 days a week at Pinniped Cove at 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM.
Our seal trainers have an incredible bond with these animals. They work with them multiple times a day, training for behaviors that allow them to participate in their own health care and to be active in their habitat. These training sessions are completely voluntary and the seals do not have to participate. Some behaviors you may observe the trainers working on with the seals are things like opening their mouths, showing their flippers, and allowing trainers to touch their bodies, along with some fun behaviors like waving, spinning, and jumping.
During these training sessions, our seals are offered two types of fish: Herring and capelin. Depending on the season, each seal can consume 5-12lb of fish per day. Herring is the larger fish you see being offered to the seals and it is full of fats and nutrients that help the seals build up their layer of blubber in the winter. The smaller fish is the capelin and it contains the fresh water the seals need for survival. They sometimes receive squid as a special treat.
