Seals in New Hampshire in January

Yes, January is one of the best months to see seals in New Hampshire. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 8 of the 69 sightings logged across the year (11.6%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Harp Seal photographed in New HampshireAtlantic Harbor Seal photographed in New HampshireAtlantic Harbor Seal photographed in New Hampshire
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for seals in New Hampshire

11.6%

of yearly sightings

8

records in January

#2

busiest month of 12

69

verified records a year

December 11.6%, January 11.6%, February 13%. Busiest month is February at 13%.

Best months: February, January, May

69 verified observations of seals in New Hampshire, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When seals are recorded in New Hampshire

Peak month

February

9 records (13% of the year)

Quietest month

April

1 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak811.6%
Februarypeak913%
March22.9%
April11.4%
Maypeak811.6%
June45.8%
July68.7%
August811.6%
September22.9%
October68.7%
November710.1%
December811.6%

Seals you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Harbor Seal54
Grey Seal9
Harp Seal3

In New Hampshire, January carries 11.6% of the year's seals sightings, about 3.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between December and January, and it heads toward February (13%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so January is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The seals most often recorded in New Hampshire are Harbor Seal, Grey Seal and Harp Seal. Those counts are annual totals rather than a January split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in January itself.

Which seals you are most likely to see

  • Harbor Seal54 records
  • Grey Seal9 records
  • Harp Seal3 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your seal trip in New Hampshire

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see seals in New Hampshire in January?+

Yes. January accounts for 8 of the 69 verified seals sightings logged in New Hampshire across the year, which is 11.6% of the annual total.

Is January a good time to see seals in New Hampshire?+

January is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of February, January and May.

What month is best for seals in New Hampshire?+

February is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through February, January and May, based on 69 verified observations.

Which seals are you most likely to see in New Hampshire?+

The most-recorded species in New Hampshire are Harbor Seal, Grey Seal and Harp Seal, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.