Harbor Seal
Harbor SealHarbor SealHarbor SealHarbor Seal

Harbor Seal

Phoca vitulina

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Cape Breton Highlands National Park
1 Verified records at Cape Breton Highlands National Park
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The harbor (or harbour) seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinniped (walruses, eared seals, and true seals), they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas. Harbour seals are brown, silvery white, tan, or grey, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils. An adult can attain a length of 1.85 m (6.1 ft) and weigh up to 168 kg (370 lb). Blubber under the seal's skin helps to maintain body temperature. Females outlive males (30–35 years versus 20–25 years). Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Gray Seal
LC

Gray Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Halichoerus grypus

30–40% · Possible
Harp Seal
NT

Harp Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pagophilus groenlandicus

Insufficient data
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

30–40% · Possible
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

Insufficient data
Bobcat
LC Endemic

Bobcat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Lynx rufus

10–20% · With luck
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

10–20% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

Insufficient data
Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Harbor Seal at Cape Breton Highlands National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
80–90%
2 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
60–70%
3 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
4 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
40–50%
5 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
6 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
7 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
8 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
30–40%
9 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
10 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
11 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
12 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
13 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
14 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
15 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
16 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Insufficient data
← Back to Cape Breton Highlands National Park