How to Identify Seal in Alaska
Yes, seals are common in Alaska's marine waters, and you can learn to tell them apart by size, ear flaps, and swimming behavior. The seals you'll encounter in places like Kenai Fjords and Inside Passage fall into two main groups: true seals, which move like caterpillars on land and have small ear holes, and sea lions, which have external ear flaps and rotate their hind flippers forward under their bodies. Most visitors first spot a ringed seal head bobbing near the surface, a harbor seal hauled out on rocks, or a Steller sea lion's large dark bulk in the distance.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
- 7
- species recorded
- June, July, August
- peak months
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
2,374 verified observations on iNaturalist of seal have been recorded in Alaska, most often in June, July, August.
When seal are recorded in Alaska
Yes, seals are common in Alaska's marine waters, and you can learn to tell them apart by size, ear flaps, and swimming behavior. The seals you'll encounter in places like Kenai Fjords and Inside Passage fall into two main groups: true seals, which move like caterpillars on land and have small ear holes, and sea lions, which have external ear flaps and rotate their hind flippers forward under their bodies. Most visitors first spot a ringed seal head bobbing near the surface, a harbor seal hauled out on rocks, or a Steller sea lion's large dark bulk in the distance.
What do seals look like in Alaska?
Seals in Alaska range from 4 to 10 feet long depending on the species. Harbor seals, the most commonly seen, have round heads, no external ears (just ear holes), and spotty gray or brown coats. Steller sea lions are much larger, darker, and have prominent ear flaps and a sloped forehead. Fur seals are smaller and sleeker than sea lions, with longer necks and tapered bodies. Ringed seals, found in ice and cold water, have small bodies and silvery spots on their backs. All true seals have hind flippers that point backward, which is why they hump along beaches like caterpillars rather than walk upright.
How do seals move on land versus in water?
True seals, like harbor seals, cannot rotate their hind flippers forward, so they hump their bodies side to side in a caterpillar motion to move on land. Sea lions and fur seals (the eared seals) can rotate their hind flippers underneath them, so they can rotate their bodies and walk or gallop on land almost like a dog. In water, the difference is also clear: true seals move by flexing their spine side to side, while sea lions move their flippers in a rowing or paddling motion, much like swimming strokes.
What color are seals in Alaska?
Harbor seals are the most variable, appearing anywhere from light gray to brown to nearly black, often with spots or blotches. Steller sea lions are dark brown or almost black when wet, and they tan lighter when dry. Fur seals are dark gray or brown with lighter undersides and a reddish tinge on their necks and shoulders during breeding season. Ringed seals are generally silver or light gray with darker rings and blotches on their backs. Bearded seals, found in the Arctic and in ice-choked waters, are huge and uniformly gray-brown. The spotting pattern and overall tone can vary widely within a species.
How do you tell a seal from a sea lion in Alaska?
The easiest field mark is the ears. Sea lions have large, visible ear flaps (pinnae) that stick out from their heads. True seals have only ear holes, no flaps. Second, look at the hind flippers: sea lions have flippers that can rotate forward and stick out to the side, while true seals have hind flippers that point backward and cannot rotate. On land, sea lions gallop or crawl forward with their front flippers, while seals hump. In the water, sea lions are nimble and acrobatic; seals are more serpentine and sinuous.
How big do seals get in Alaska?
Harbor seals, the smallest, reach 4 to 6 feet and weigh 100 to 300 pounds. Fur seals are 5 to 6 feet and lighter. Steller sea lions are the giants, reaching 8 to 10 feet or more and weighing 1,000 to 2,500 pounds for males. Ringed seals stay small, around 4 feet. Bearded seals, the largest true seal, can reach 7 feet or more. These size differences are helpful when spotting animals from a distance: if it looks enormous and dark, it's likely a Steller sea lion. If it's smaller and moving in a sinuous hump, it's likely a harbor seal.
What sounds do seals make?
Harbor seals produce grunts, growls, and occasional barks, especially when hauled out or when mothers call to pups. Steller sea lions are much louder, with deep roars, barks, and bellows that carry across water. Fur seals make higher-pitched chirps and grunts. Ringed seals and bearded seals are usually silent on land, but in the water they produce ultrasonic clicks and chirps for echolocation and communication. If you hear loud, deep vocalizations echoing from rocks or icebergs, sea lions are likely present.
Do seals have whiskers or other distinctive features?
All seals have prominent whiskers (vibrissae) that help them detect vibrations and movement in water. These are especially thick and visible on bearded seals, which have long, sensory white whiskers that give them their name. Male sea lions often have thicker necks and manes, making them appear larger and more robust than females. During breeding season, many males develop scars from fighting. Ringed seals have a small, rounded head and lack the slope to their forehead that sea lions show.
How do you identify seal pups?
Seal pups are smaller and often have lighter or different colored coats than adults. Harbor seal pups can swim within hours of birth and follow mothers to sea within days. Steller sea lion pups are dark brown or black, stay on land for several months, and gather in pup pools on breeding islands. Fur seal pups are born dark and lighten as they age. Ringed seal pups are born in breathing holes in sea ice and stay with mothers for several weeks. If you see a small seal or sea lion alone or on land without adults, it may be a dependent pup; never approach, as mothers are protective and may be resting nearby.
Where can you see different seal species in Alaska?
Harbor seals haul out on rocks, islands, and icebergs throughout coastal Alaska, especially in Southeast Alaska's Inside Passage and around Kenai Fjords. Steller sea lions prefer rocky pinnacles and island caves in Southeast Alaska and the Gulf of Alaska. Fur seals breed on the Pribilof Islands and other remote islands in the Bering Sea. Ringed seals live in Arctic waters and ice-choked bays. Bearded seals are found in the Bering Sea and Arctic waters. Katmai and Lake Clark offer chances to spot seals from rivers and coast, while boat tours in Kenai Fjords and Inside Passage provide the best views of hauled-out seals and sea lions.
Frequently asked questions
What do seals look like in Alaska?+
Seals in Alaska range from 4 to 10 feet long depending on the species. Harbor seals, the most commonly seen, have round heads, no external ears (just ear holes), and spotty gray or brown coats. Steller sea lions are much larger, darker, and have prominent ear flaps and a sloped forehead. Fur seals are smaller and sleeker than sea lions, with longer necks and tapered bodies. Ringed seals, found in ice and cold water, have small bodies and silvery spots on their backs. All true seals have hind flippers that point backward, which is why they hump along beaches like caterpillars rather than walk upright.
How do seals move on land versus in water?+
True seals, like harbor seals, cannot rotate their hind flippers forward, so they hump their bodies side to side in a caterpillar motion to move on land. Sea lions and fur seals (the eared seals) can rotate their hind flippers underneath them, so they can rotate their bodies and walk or gallop on land almost like a dog. In water, the difference is also clear: true seals move by flexing their spine side to side, while sea lions move their flippers in a rowing or paddling motion, much like swimming strokes.
What color are seals in Alaska?+
Harbor seals are the most variable, appearing anywhere from light gray to brown to nearly black, often with spots or blotches. Steller sea lions are dark brown or almost black when wet, and they tan lighter when dry. Fur seals are dark gray or brown with lighter undersides and a reddish tinge on their necks and shoulders during breeding season. Ringed seals are generally silver or light gray with darker rings and blotches on their backs. Bearded seals, found in the Arctic and in ice-choked waters, are huge and uniformly gray-brown. The spotting pattern and overall tone can vary widely within a species.
How do you tell a seal from a sea lion in Alaska?+
The easiest field mark is the ears. Sea lions have large, visible ear flaps (pinnae) that stick out from their heads. True seals have only ear holes, no flaps. Second, look at the hind flippers: sea lions have flippers that can rotate forward and stick out to the side, while true seals have hind flippers that point backward and cannot rotate. On land, sea lions gallop or crawl forward with their front flippers, while seals hump. In the water, sea lions are nimble and acrobatic; seals are more serpentine and sinuous.
How big do seals get in Alaska?+
Harbor seals, the smallest, reach 4 to 6 feet and weigh 100 to 300 pounds. Fur seals are 5 to 6 feet and lighter. Steller sea lions are the giants, reaching 8 to 10 feet or more and weighing 1,000 to 2,500 pounds for males. Ringed seals stay small, around 4 feet. Bearded seals, the largest true seal, can reach 7 feet or more. These size differences are helpful when spotting animals from a distance: if it looks enormous and dark, it's likely a Steller sea lion. If it's smaller and moving in a sinuous hump, it's likely a harbor seal.
What sounds do seals make?+
Harbor seals produce grunts, growls, and occasional barks, especially when hauled out or when mothers call to pups. Steller sea lions are much louder, with deep roars, barks, and bellows that carry across water. Fur seals make higher-pitched chirps and grunts. Ringed seals and bearded seals are usually silent on land, but in the water they produce ultrasonic clicks and chirps for echolocation and communication. If you hear loud, deep vocalizations echoing from rocks or icebergs, sea lions are likely present.
Do seals have whiskers or other distinctive features?+
All seals have prominent whiskers (vibrissae) that help them detect vibrations and movement in water. These are especially thick and visible on bearded seals, which have long, sensory white whiskers that give them their name. Male sea lions often have thicker necks and manes, making them appear larger and more robust than females. During breeding season, many males develop scars from fighting. Ringed seals have a small, rounded head and lack the slope to their forehead that sea lions show.
How do you identify seal pups?+
Seal pups are smaller and often have lighter or different colored coats than adults. Harbor seal pups can swim within hours of birth and follow mothers to sea within days. Steller sea lion pups are dark brown or black, stay on land for several months, and gather in pup pools on breeding islands. Fur seal pups are born dark and lighten as they age. Ringed seal pups are born in breathing holes in sea ice and stay with mothers for several weeks. If you see a small seal or sea lion alone or on land without adults, it may be a dependent pup; never approach, as mothers are protective and may be resting nearby.
Where can you see different seal species in Alaska?+
Harbor seals haul out on rocks, islands, and icebergs throughout coastal Alaska, especially in Southeast Alaska's Inside Passage and around Kenai Fjords. Steller sea lions prefer rocky pinnacles and island caves in Southeast Alaska and the Gulf of Alaska. Fur seals breed on the Pribilof Islands and other remote islands in the Bering Sea. Ringed seals live in Arctic waters and ice-choked bays. Bearded seals are found in the Bering Sea and Arctic waters. Katmai and Lake Clark offer chances to spot seals from rivers and coast, while boat tours in Kenai Fjords and Inside Passage provide the best views of hauled-out seals and sea lions.
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