Harbor Seal
Round head, spotted coat, and V-shaped nostrils distinguish the true seal most regularly seen around Rhode Island.
Artwork inspired by Edward Mitchell Bannister
Harbor seals lack external ear flaps and cannot rotate their hind flippers under the body like sea lions. At rest they often lift head and rear flippers into a curved “banana” posture. Hundreds may use Narragansett Bay haul-outs in winter, where exposed rock provides rest between feeding trips.
Hauling out is necessary behavior, not laziness. A seal repeatedly raising its head, shifting toward water, or abandoning a ledge may be reacting to disturbance. View through binoculars from shore, keep dogs away, and leave apparently solitary pups where they are unless trained responders advise otherwise.
- Face
- Short dog-like muzzle
- Resting clue
- Head and hind flippers raised
- Rhode Island peak
- Cool-season bay haul-outs
Quick guide
- Check the head
- No external ear flap separates a true seal from a sea lion.
- Count from afar
- Use a scope instead of approaching a haul-out.
Recognize and observe
- Check the head
- No external ear flap separates a true seal from a sea lion.
- Count from afar
- Use a scope instead of approaching a haul-out.
- Read alertness
- Repeated head lifts can mean your presence is too close.
- Call, do not rescue
- Report injury or stranding to the regional response network.
Good to know
A seal resting alone on shore may be healthy. Moving it, feeding it, or forcing it back into the water can turn a normal haul-out into an emergency.
Notice these
- Short dog-like muzzle
- Head and hind flippers raised
- Cool-season bay haul-outs