Harbor Seal
Harbor SealHarbor SealHarbor SealHarbor Seal

Harbor Seal

Phoca vitulina

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · With luck
overall probability at Channel Islands National Park
102 Verified records at Channel Islands National Park
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ 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 →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Harbor Seal sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 102 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park

Northern Elephant Seal
LC

Northern Elephant Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mirounga angustirostris

10–20% · With luck
Island Fox
NT Endemic

Island Fox

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Urocyon littoralis

70–80% · Very likely
California Sea Lion
LC

California Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Zalophus californianus

50–60% · Likely
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

10–20% · With luck
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

10–20% · With luck
🐒 No photo available
LC

Striped Skunk

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Mephitis mephitis

5–10% · With luck
Western Spotted Skunk
LC Endemic

Western Spotted Skunk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Spilogale gracilis

5–10% · With luck
Bobcat
LC Endemic

Bobcat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Lynx rufus

<5% · Rare
Juan Fernández Fur Seal

Juan Fernández Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus philippii

<5% · Rare
Northern Sea Lion
NT

Northern Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eumetopias jubatus

<5% · Rare
Mountain Lion
LC

Mountain Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Puma concolor

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
10–20
Feb
20–30
Mar
10–20
Apr
20–30
May
20–30
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
10–20
Sep
10–20
Oct
10–20
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ 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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Harbor Seal in Channel Islands National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Harbor Seal sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 102 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Harbor Seal in Channel Islands National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Harbor Seal in Channel Islands National Park in our monthly data.

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