Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderCarnivora (Carnívors)
- FamilyPhocidae (Earless Seals)
- GenusPhoca (common seals)
- SpeciesPhoca vitulina (Harbor Seal)
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 →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Harbor Seal sighting in Gros Morne National Park, based on 14 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Gros Morne National Park
Harp Seal
Pagophilus groenlandicus
Gray Seal
Halichoerus grypus
Bearded Seal
Erignathus barbatus
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
Canada Lynx
Lynx canadensis
Northern River Otter
Lontra canadensis
Coyote
Canis latrans
Stoat
Mustela erminea
American Marten
Martes americana
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
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 | |
| 2 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 3 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Pacific Rim National Park Reserve | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 7 | Redwood National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 9 | Olympic National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 13 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 14 | Kluane National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 15 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 16 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Harbor Seal in Gros Morne National Park?
About 18% of wildlife watchers report a Harbor Seal sighting in Gros Morne National Park, based on 14 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Harbor Seal in Gros Morne National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Harbor Seal in Gros Morne National Park in our monthly data.