Gray Seal

Gray Seal

Halichoerus grypus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Wadden Sea National Park
497 Verified records at Wadden Sea National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), or gray seal in the United States, is a large seal of the family Phocidae, which are commonly referred to as "true seals" or "earless seals". The only species classified in the genus Halichoerus, it is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. In Latin, Halichoerus grypus means "hook-nosed sea pig". It is also known as the horsehead seal, owing to its large head. The grey seal is large and heavy, with individuals from the eastern Atlantic being 1.6–2.3 m (5 ft 3 in – 7 ft 7 in) long and weighing 100–310 kg (220–680 lb), while individuals from the western Atlantic are up to 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) long, and can reach a weight of as much as 400 kg (880 lb). It is found widely across the northern Atlantic, ranging from the US to Russia, and occasionally as far south as Portugal. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Gray Seal sighting in Wadden Sea National Park, based on 497 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
10–20
Feb
20–30
Mar
10–20
Apr
20–30
May
20–30
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
40–50
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
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 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
30–40%
2 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
3 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
20–30%
4 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
5 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
10–20%
6 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Gray Seal in Wadden Sea National Park?

About 25% of wildlife watchers report a Gray Seal sighting in Wadden Sea National Park, based on 497 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Gray Seal in Wadden Sea National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Gray Seal in Wadden Sea National Park in our monthly data.

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