Harbor Seals are found along the coastal waters throughout the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Baltic and North Seas making them the most widely distributed seal population. They are very common in the Monterey Bay area.
Harbor Seal mothers are giving birth from mid-April to mid-May at several locations along the sandy and rocky Monterey Bay shore, where they can sometimes be observed from the nearby walking trail. It is a fascinating time as the births come quickly and the ever-present gulls are there to help with cleaning up after the birth process. Wikipedia has very good information on all aspects of the Harbor Seal life cycle here.
Harbor Seal mothers are giving birth from mid-April to mid-May at several locations along the sandy and rocky Monterey Bay shore, where they can sometimes be observed from the nearby walking trail. It is a fascinating time as the births come quickly and the ever-present gulls are there to help with cleaning up after the birth process. Wikipedia has very good information on all aspects of the Harbor Seal life cycle here.
The typical beach location where the births occur looks like the photo below. Mothers and pups share the beach and the nearby ocean where they give birth, nurse and learn to swim - all in the protected location where they have been returning for years. The beach location is close enough for watchers to get a good view but also well protected from overly inquisitive observers.
The birth process is one that we rarely see with the detail shown below and it is over in minutes. The next tide clears the beach and the Gulls do their part as well. The photos below are quite explicit and we recommend that one is prepared for seeing the detail of this natural process.
The birth process is one that we rarely see with the detail shown below and it is over in minutes. The next tide clears the beach and the Gulls do their part as well. The photos below are quite explicit and we recommend that one is prepared for seeing the detail of this natural process.
Here a new mother and her pup get acquainted just after birth. The nearby Gull is ready as a scavenger for his part of the process. We can see the area where the birth occurred - just behind the Gull.
The birth comes fast and we arrived just afterwards - likely within minutes of the birth. We got this shot of the mother, her pup and the ever-present Gull together.
The umbilical is still attached to the pup and the scavenging Gull is "helpful" in trying to hasten it's removal. Note also a portion of the mother's placenta is yet to be fully expelled.
The Gull is aggressive in trying to benefit from the high protein food source. First gathering any placenta material and then washing it in the ocean before devouring the meal.
The pup attempts to nurse while the Gull remains busy trying to help with the removal of the remaining placenta from the mother.
Finally the mother and pup have an undisturbed moment to get acquainted. The mother and pup "bonding" seems to be immediate. The look on the mothers face tells the whole story of the unique bond mothers have with their offspring.
There may be as many as 60 - 80 births that will have occurred during the pupping season along the beaches in this immediate Monterey Bay area.
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