Harbour seal

Scientific name: Phoca vitulina

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Harbour seals have stocky, fusiform bodies with a relatively large head and no external ear flaps. Coat colour ranges from silver-grey to brown with dark spots or blotches; individuals show high variation in pattern and tone, with males typically darker than females.

Size and weight

Males 1.5–1.9 m long, 55–90 kg; females 1.4–1.7 m long, 40–65 kg.

Habitat

Harbour seals inhabit rocky and sandy coastlines, estuaries, and nearshore waters of temperate and subarctic regions. They haul out on exposed rocks, beaches, and sandbars for rest and breeding, preferring areas with tidal access and proximity to productive fishing grounds.

Distribution

Harbour seals range throughout the North Atlantic and North Pacific coasts, and isolated populations occur in the Baltic and Caspian seas. They favour temperate and subarctic coastlines with strong tidal ranges and cool waters.

Diet

Harbour seals feed primarily on demersal and pelagic fish species including cod, herring, and flatfish; diet varies seasonally and regionally with local prey availability.

Behaviour

Harbour seals are primarily diurnal and crepuscular, hauling out in groups (sometimes solitary) for thermoregulation and rest, particularly during peak tidal periods. They are highly aquatic but return to familiar haul-out sites regularly; males are territorial and vocal during breeding.

Hunting tips

Look for convergence trails on haul-out rocks and shallow drag marks in sand/mud leading to water entry points; scat is typically loose and deposited at rest sites. Approach from downwind using rocky terrain for concealment; scan haul-outs during slack tide when seals are most docile. Stalking requires patience—move during seal diving periods and freeze when heads lift.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 2 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.