Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) is in the Earless Seals family (Phocidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 16,491 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Harbor Seal: observations by month (U.S.)
About 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 and the Baltic and North Seas.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Harbor Seal by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8,578 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Washington | 2,926 | July | Mar–Oct |
| Alaska | 1,671 | July | May–Sep |
| Oregon | 1,149 | July | Mar–Nov |
| Maine | 890 | August | May–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 514 | January | Oct–Apr |
| New York | 268 | January | Nov–Mar |
| New Jersey | 216 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Delaware | 95 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Virginia | 51 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Rhode Island | 40 | December | Nov–Dec |
| New Hampshire | 35 | November | Oct–Feb |
| Connecticut | 33 | January | Dec–Apr |
| North Carolina | 17 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Maryland | 8 | January | Jan–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Earless Seals)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Harbor Seal?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to May.
Where is Harbor Seal most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Alaska.