What? Seals in Hainesport?

By Melanie Reding
Rancocas Conservancy

You might not be interested in visiting New Jersey’s beaches during the winter, but a variety of seals are undaunted by the cold weather.  Seals are typically winter visitors coming from the colder waters of Maine all the way to the Arctic.   This spring a harbor seal decided to make a visit to the Rancocas Creek in Hainesport.

Seals are classified as pinnipeds which means “fin-footed”.  Pinnipeds are a group of “fin-footed” semi-aquatic marine mammals.  They include the walrus, eared seals/ sea lions, and true or earless seals. 

Four species of true seals typically visit New Jersey, mostly during the months of October to April.  During this time they might be seen in the surf of sandy beaches, hauled out on an island or right on one of New Jersey’s many beaches.  Seals come out of the water for a variety of reasons: to rest, to warm up, or if they are sick or injured.

The most common of these “true seals” is the Harbor Seal.  The Harbor seal inhabits the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans.   Harbor seals can have a range of coat colors from light tan to dark brown with scattered dark spots with rings around them.  They have a spaniel like face which often gives them the nickname “sea dog”.  They range from 300-400 lbs and can reach lengths of over 6 feet,

Grey seals are often called “horse heads” due to their long broad snout, which resembles a horse’s profile.  They are light to dark grey with splotches.  They range from 400-800 lbs. and can reach up to 7 ½ feet.  Grey seals often find their way to New Jersey while they are still very young.  Unlike human babies seals are on their own after only a few short weeks with their mothers.  By the time they come to New Jersey they are already on their own.

Harp seals get their name from the black harp pattern on their white to silvery coat when they become adults.  When they are young they are famous for their fluffy all white coats.  While in NJ, they typically have their first and second year coats. This coat is silver with random, dark blotches.  Although all marine mammals are protected by law in the United States there is still a hunting season on harp seals in Canada.  Harp seals weigh 300 lbs and grow to be 6 feet long.

The least common seal that visits New Jersey is the Hooded seal.  The Hooded seal comes all the way from the Arctic to the beaches of New Jersey every couple of years.  They get their name from the inflatable “hood” on the nose of the male seals.  Typically they come to New Jersey waters while they are younger than 14 months and still covered by their “blueback” coat which is blue-grey from their head to their tail with a cream colored belly.  When full grown Hooded seals can reach over 8 feet and weigh over 800 lbs making them the largest seal to currently visit New Jersey.

As mentioned before seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.  This Federal law protects seals, dolphins, and whales from hunting, killing, capturing and harassment.  In New Jersey the Marine Mammal Stranding Center located in Brigantine, is charged with the job of responding to stranded marine mammals.  They were notified of the Harbor seal in the Rancocas and monitored the seal to insure that it was healthy and not in need of help.   If you are lucky enough to see a seal in New Jersey, please call the Stranding Center at 609-266-0538 to report it so they can make sure it doesn’t need their help.  Visit www.mmsc.org for more information on New Jersey’s marine mammals.