Harbor Seal

Description:

(copied from wikipedia) "Harbor seals are brown, silvery white, tan, or gray, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils. An adult can attain a length of 1.85 meters (6.1 ft) and a mass of 132 kilograms (290 lb). Blubber under the seal's skin helps to maintain body temperature. Females outlive males (30–35 years versus 20–25 years). Harbor seals stick to familiar resting spots or haulout sites, generally rocky areas (although ice, sand and mud may also be used) where they are protected from adverse weather conditions and predation, near a foraging area. Males may fight over mates underwater and on land. Females bear a single pup after a nine-month gestation, which they care for alone. Pups can weigh up to 16 kg (35 lb) and are able to swim and dive within hours of birth. They develop quickly on their mothers' fat-rich milk and are weaned after four to six weeks."

Habitat:

Ocean inlets and harbors.

Notes:

I know this is a horrible picture to celebrate my 600th post on Project Noah, but it was a first for me to see a harbor seal in the wild. I was able to spot three in this location throughout the day, but this was the only photo that actually came out as identifiable at all. A second seal just dove and you can barely see the outline directly inline behind the first in the photo.