Harbor Seal
Harbor SealHarbor SealHarbor SealHarbor Seal

Harbor Seal

Phoca vitulina

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
42 Verified records at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
June 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 →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Harbor Seal sighting in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, based on 42 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

50–60% · Likely
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

30–40% · Possible
Sea Otter
EN

Sea Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Enhydra lutris

20–30% · Possible
Northern Sea Lion
NT

Northern Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eumetopias jubatus

20–30% · Possible
Gray Wolf
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

10–20% · With luck
Canada Lynx
LC

Canada Lynx

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lynx canadensis

10–20% · With luck
Wolverine
LC

Wolverine

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Gulo gulo

10–20% · With luck
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

Insufficient data
Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

Insufficient data
Northern Fur Seal
VU

Northern Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Callorhinus ursinus

Insufficient data
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
40–50
Feb
20–30
Mar
10–20
Apr
50–60
May
60–70
Jun
30–40
Jul
40–50
Aug
40–50
Sep
30–40
Oct
40–50
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 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park?

About 48% of wildlife watchers report a Harbor Seal sighting in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, based on 42 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Harbor Seal in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Harbor Seal in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park