Seals in Washington in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see seals in Washington. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 629 of the 5,927 sightings logged across the year (10.6%), 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.

Creeping buttercup photographed in WashingtonMount Hood baneberry photographed in Washingtonwhite pasqueflower photographed in Washington
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for seals in Washington

10.6%

of yearly sightings

629

records in April

#3

busiest month of 12

5,927

verified records a year

March 5.9%, April 10.6%, May 9.7%. Busiest month is July at 13.2%.

Best months: July, August, AprilPeak season right now

5,927 verified observations of seals in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When seals are recorded in Washington

Peak month

July

781 records (13.2% of the year)

Quietest month

February

237 records

MonthObservationsShare
January2904.9%
February2374%
March3515.9%
Aprilpeak62910.6%
May5779.7%
June59910.1%
Julypeak78113.2%
Augustpeak72212.2%
September5539.3%
October5399.1%
November3806.4%
December2694.5%

Seals you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Harbor Seal5,712
Northern Elephant Seal199

In Washington, April carries 10.6% of the year's seals sightings, about 2.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from March (5.9%) into April, and it heads toward May (9.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which seals you are most likely to see

  • Harbor Seal5,712 records
  • Northern Elephant Seal199 records
Plan your tripEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Plan your seal trip in Washington

Start with live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see seals in Washington in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 629 of the 5,927 verified seals sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 10.6% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see seals in Washington?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, August and April.

What month is best for seals in Washington?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and April, based on 5,927 verified observations.

Which seals are you most likely to see in Washington?+

The most-recorded species in Washington are Harbor Seal and Northern Elephant Seal, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.