5 Fun Facts about Seals
1. Only common and grey seals breed in British waters, though vagrant northern seals can be seen around our coasts. Common and grey seals are difficult to tell apart when in the water. The common seal has a relatively smaller head and its nostrils form a V-shape. The grey seal has an elongated ‘Roman nose’ and its nostrils are parallel.
2. Because seals hunt in the open sea and usually travel long distances in search of prey, returning to land means a significant drain on their energy reserves. Therefore, seals tend to fast when ashore and minimise the time they spend on land.
3. Blubber is a good insulator at sea, but seals can overheat on land, even on cool days, so they often fan themselves with their flippers.
4. Because seals are evolved from land carnivores and, unlike whales and dolphins haven’t evolved ways of giving birth at sea, they must return to land to give birth to their pups.
5. Pups of both species are fed for up to four weeks, during which time they can more than double their body weight. Their mothers then abandon them.
Where to see Seals?
While seals can be seen basking at any time of year, they primarily return to land to moult (common seals from August to September; grey seals from February to April) and breed (common seals from June to August; grey seals from September to December).
Common seals are not actually uncommon in fresh water rivers and have been known to travel several hundred miles upstream. Grey seals, on the other hand, are much less likely to enter rivers.
The top 10 seal watching spots in the UK can be found here.
Links to my previous Wildlife Wednesday posts can be found here and here.
Thanks for Reading.
London Vegan Bird
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SOURCES : RSPB, Discover Wildlife, Countryfile
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