Harbor Seal
Harbor SealHarbor SealHarbor SealHarbor Seal

Harbor Seal

Phoca vitulina

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Redwood National Park
119 Verified records at Redwood National Park
August 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 →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Harbor Seal sighting in Redwood National Park, based on 119 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Redwood National Park

Northern Elephant Seal
LC

Northern Elephant Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mirounga angustirostris

5–10% · With luck
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely
Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

30–40% · Possible
California Sea Lion
LC

California Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Zalophus californianus

20–30% · Possible
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

20–30% · With luck
🐒 No photo available
LC

Striped Skunk

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Mephitis mephitis

20–30% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

10–20% · With luck
Northern Sea Lion
NT

Northern Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eumetopias jubatus

5–10% · With luck
Bobcat
LC Endemic

Bobcat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Lynx rufus

5–10% · With luck
Mountain Lion
LC

Mountain Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Puma concolor

5–10% · Rare
Ringtail
LC Endemic

Ringtail

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Bassariscus astutus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
30–40
Feb
40–50
Mar
30–40
Apr
20–30
May
30–40
Jun
30–40
Jul
50–60
Aug
40–50
Sep
30–40
Oct
30–40
Nov
40–50
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 Redwood National Park?

About 37% of wildlife watchers report a Harbor Seal sighting in Redwood National Park, based on 119 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

August has the highest sighting rate for Harbor Seal in Redwood National Park in our monthly data.

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