Are grey seals and harbor seals the same?

There are differences in the coats pattern or ‘pelage’, of the two species. 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 grey seals endangered?

Gray seals, Halichoerus grypus, are listed as Least Concern (LC) with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: LEAST CONCERN (LC) – A taxon is Least Concern when it has been evaluated against the criteria and does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened.

How many grey seals are left?

Population Status In U.S. waters, there is one stock of gray seals, the western North Atlantic stock. There are roughly 450,000 gray seals in Canada and U.S. waters combined.

Are grey seals friendly?

On the contrary, they are curious and playful. That means when a grey seal is fed or even petted, they can start playing dangerous biting games. In Zeeland, a diver who wanted to swim with a grey seal, suffered bite wounds. You can compare this to bears: grey seals have a friendly look but remain true predators.

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.

Where do grey seals go in winter?

During the winter months grey seals can be seen hauled out on rocks, islands, and shoals not far from shore, occasionally coming ashore to rest.

How many grey seals are there in the UK?

Despite numbers dropping to only 500 in the early 20th century, it’s estimated that there are now more than 120,000 grey seals in Britain, representing 40% of the world’s population and 95% of the European population.

Are grey seals protected in the UK?

The UK is home to two species of native seal – the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and common seal (Phoca vitulina). Both species, as well as others, are protected in the UK (see below).

Are seals aggressive to humans?

Most seals are not known to be aggressive. Seal attacks on humans are rare, but they are not new. Seals, especially in their natural habitat, are often timid and would not initiate an attack out of anywhere. Yet, when they feel threatened or provoked, they can bite as an act of self-defense.

What is the difference between a common seal and a grey seal?

Are grey seals bigger than common seals?

The grey seal is a species which grows to much larger sizes than the common seal, with males being substantially larger than females.

Do gray seals migrate?

They prefer remote rocky coasts with small islands and reefs. The beaches they inhabit may be rocky, sandy or ice pack. Gray seals migrate far from their rookeries when they are not breeding or molting.

Do grey seals have predators?

Grey seals are vulnerable to typical predators for a pinniped mammal. Large sharks are known to prey on grey seals in Canada, particularly great white sharks but also, upon evidence, additionally Greenland sharks. In the waters of Great Britain, grey seals are a fairly common prey species for killer whales.

Are grey seals native to UK?

The grey seal is a species which is found around the colder northern regions of the British Isles. There are notable breeding colonies in a number of places around the UK such as off the coast of Northumberland, Lincolnshire and the Orkney Islands.

Where do grey seals live UK?

Origin & Distribution: Grey seals around Great Britain are found mainly along exposed rocky northern and western coasts. They also occur in the south west and off the east coast, around the Isle of May and the Farne Islands off Northumberland, and along the west coast of Ireland.

Is it illegal to disturb a seal?

Within these sites activities that could negatively impact the protected features, such as disturbance of seals by human activity, may be an offence. Details of the legislation relevant to seals and the areas in which they have additional protection is available on the Government website.

Is it illegal to disturb seals UK?

3. Killing or injuring seals. It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take a seal.

Do seals like to be pet?

Seals may look cuddly, but never pet or feed them.

How can you tell the difference between a grey seal and a common seal?

Where do seals go in the winter?

Juvenile seals will travel south from New England every winter to enjoy the warmer waters and plentiful fish population of the Bay region. They stay in the area from December through May and return to New England when water temperatures rise—but if you’re lucky, you may spot one while it’s here.

Where do grey seals sleep at night?

the water
How do seals sleep. Seals sleep in the water as well as on land. In the water, they sleep floating in a standing position, like a fishing bobber, or floating horizontally on the surface. Because they are sleeping and not actively swimming, they can stay under water much longer than when hunting for food.

Are seals native to UK?

Britain’s largest native carnivore is the grey seal, but the other resident seal species is the smaller harbour (also known as a common seal) seal (Phoca vitulina). The UK is home to approximately 5% of the world’s population of harbour seals.