Wildlife Quiz - Harbor Seal

The Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) of the Atlantic Ocean, inhabits the coast beaches and islands from Maine south to Massachusetts. Occasionally, Harbor Seals can be found in Connecticut, Long Island, New Jersey and even as far south as North Carolina.

Individual Harbor Seals possess widely varied brown, silvery white, tan, or gray bodies dotted with a unique pattern of dark spots. The underparts are generally lighter in color. This highly evolved color pattern, helps camouflage the Harbor Seal and allows it to be extremely adept at avoiding predators. The Harbor Seal flippers are short yet extremely powerful. The head is rounded and the muzzle nostrils appear distinctively V-shaped. Adult Harbor Seals can attain a length of 6 ft and a mass of 300 lb. Most of this weight is comprised of blubber, a fatty substance that allows the seal to stay warm in the frigid waters of the Atlantic.

In Maine, birthing of pups occurs on shore, through the months of April - June. Female Harbor Seals bear a single pup, after a nine-month gestation, which they care for alone. Pups (immature Harbor Seals) are born well developed, capable of swimming and diving within hours of birth. Young pups begin life feeding on their mother’s milk but grow rapidly and within 4 weeks wean and begin eating a diet comprised of squid, carbs, clams and fish. Harbor seals have even been seen killing and eating several different kinds of ducks.

If able to successfully avoid predators like sharks, Killer Whales and Polar Bears, Harbor Seals have been known to reach a maximum age of 36 years old.


Wildlife Quiz Questions 
1.  What is the typical range of the Harbor Seal?
2. What is the color of a Harbor Seal?
3. What is a distinctive feature of the Harbor Seal?
4. How big can an adult Harbor Seal grow?
5. When in Maine does birthing of pups occur?
6. What do Harbor Seals eat?
7. What predators eat Harbor Seals?
8. How long do Harbor Seals live?

Wildlife Quiz Answers 
1. The Harbor Seal of the Atlantic Ocean, inhabits the coast beaches and islands from Maine south to Massachusetts.
2. Individual Harbor Seals possess widely varied brown, silvery white, tan, or gray bodies dotted with a unique pattern of dark spots.
3. A distinctive feature of the Harbor Seal is that it’s muzzle nostrils appear distinctively V-shaped.
4. An adult Harbor Seal can attain a length of 6 ft and a mass of 300 lb.
5. In Maine, birthing of pups occurs through the months of April - June.
6. Harbor Seals eat a diet comprised of squid, carbs, clams and fish.
7. Predators that eat Harbor Seals include sharks, Killer Whales and Polar Bears.
8. Harbor Seals have been known to reach a maximum age of 36 years old.