Fur seals are polygamous breeders ; this means that a male may mate with many females in a single breeding season. Females mate six to eight days after the birth of their pup, even before their first foraging trip.
Where do fur seals mate?
They use rocky sites for breeding, but males fight for territory on land and on the shoreline and in the water . Upon arriving to the breeding grounds, females give birth to their pups from the previous season.
Where do fur seals go to breed?
Northern fur seals seasonally breed on six islands in the eastern North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea in the United States—St. Paul, Bogoslof, St. George, Sea Lion Rock, San Miguel, and South Farallon. They also breed on the Commander Islands, Kuril Island, and Robben Island.
Do fur seals mate for life?
Female fur seals, or cows, give birth during this breeding season, then mate again just a few days later . The following year they will return to give birth to a single pup after a nearly yearlong pregnancy, and mate once again to continue the cycle.
Where do seal seal puppies live?
Harbor seal pups grace our lives by visiting inland Puget Sound waters in early summer and fall. However, along the coastlines of Washington and Oregon, they are born as early as April (view map of pupping season). Pups haul out to get much-needed rest and to warm up out of the cold Pacific Northwest waters.
What’s the difference between fur seals and sea lions?
Sea lions are larger in size then Fur seals , while the sexual dimorphism (size difference between male and females) is larger in Fur seals then Sea lions. ... The ear flaps on Fur seals are larger and sticking father out from the head then Sea lions, and their flipper are proportionally longer on Fur seals then Sea lions.
Why do fur seals have 2 layers of fur?
Fur seals have a dense coat of two layers – a wool-like underfur and long, coarse outer hairs. This double layer traps air which waterproofs and insulates the seal . All seals moult each year, replacing their old fur with new growth.
What is the lifespan of a seal?
Harbor seals may live a maximum of about 25 to 30 years . Males tend to have a shorter lifespan, possibly due to the stress of fighting during breeding seasons.
Are fur seals actually sea lions?
Fur seals, in spite of having the word “seal” in their name, are actually closely related to sea lions . They have longer flippers than sea lions, along with a luxuriant coat of fur that was so prized by hunters that it brought them to the brink of extinction in the 19th century.
Where do seals go in winter?
Seals prefer rocky, secluded islands and beaches , but will often haul themselves up on piers in harbors and coves such as Apponagansett Bay, New Bedford Harbor, and Nasketucket Bay. Gull Island, located in between Penikese and Nashawena in the Elizabeth Islands chain, is a well-known harbor seal habitat.
Where do seals go at night?
Seals sleep in the water as well as on land . In the water, they sleep floating in a standing position, like a fishing bobber, or floating horizontally on the surface. Because they are sleeping and not actively swimming, they can stay under water much longer than when hunting for food.
How fast can a seal run?
Elephant seals are solitary in the ocean, but on land they form large colonies around their breeding grounds. These heavy animals are best adapted to the sea and clumsy on land, but can move at speeds up to 5 miles per hour if threatened.
What happens if you touch a seal pup?
Touching seal pups in selfies can cause them to slowly starve to death , animal group warns.
What time of day are seals most active?
When it’s hot and sunny, the seals typically leave the beach each morning by 7:00 or 8:00am at the latest. They’ll gradually return to the sand in the late afternoon or early evening, once the shade and/or tide has cooled off the sand.
What is a female seal called?
Adult males are called bulls and females are called cows , while a young seal is a pup. Immature males are sometimes called SAMs (sub-adult males) or bachelors.
