Thinkabara🦭 Harbor Seal Facts for Kids
🐾 Mammals Grades K–5
The harbor seal is a meat-eating mammal that lives in the ocean. Harbor seals have no outside ear flaps — just tiny ear holes.
🦭 Harbor Seal fact file
- Scientific name
- Phoca vitulina
- Animal group
- Mammal
- Where it lives
- The ocean
- Habitat
- Cool coasts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, including New England, California and Alaska
- Diet
- Carnivore (meat-eater) — Fish, squid, crabs and shrimp
- Size
- About 5 to 6 feet long
- Weight
- About 180–285 lb
- Life span
- About 25–30 years
- Status
- Least Concern
📏 A harbor seal is about as long as a grown-up is tall.
⭐ 5 fun facts about harbor seals
- Harbor seals have no outside ear flaps — just tiny ear holes.
- Their whiskers can feel the trail of a swimming fish in dark water.
- They often rest on rocks and beaches in a “banana” pose, head and tail in the air.
- Harbor seals can dive hundreds of feet and stay under for up to about 30 minutes.
- A seal pup can swim within hours of being born.
Where do harbor seals live?
Wild harbor seals are found in the ocean. Cool coasts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, including New England, California and Alaska. Many aquariums and marine sanctuaries help scientists study and protect them.
What do harbor seals eat?
Harbor seals are carnivores, which means they eat other animals. Their menu: fish, squid, crabs and shrimp.
Is the harbor seal endangered?
Status: Least Concern. That means there are plenty in the wild right now — good news! You can help wild animals by learning about them, saving energy, cutting down on plastic and supporting zoos, aquariums and parks that protect wildlife.
Harbor Seal quiz
How do harbor seals find fish in dark water?
What kind of eater is the harbor seal?
What kind of animal is the harbor seal?
Where does the harbor seal live?
✏️ Write about the harbor seal
1. The most surprising fact I learned is…
2. If I could ask a harbor seal one question, I would ask…
3. Draw the harbor seal in its habitat:
🖍️ Draw and color
Seals coloring pagesHarbor Seal questions kids ask
Where do harbor seals live?
Harbor seals live in the ocean. Their habitat: Cool coasts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, including New England, California and Alaska.
What do harbor seals eat?
Harbor seals are carnivores (meat-eater). They eat: Fish, squid, crabs and shrimp.
How big is a harbor seal?
About 5 to 6 feet long. Weight: About 180–285 lb. A harbor seal is about as long as a grown-up is tall.
How long do harbor seals live?
About 25–30 years.
Is the harbor seal endangered?
Its conservation status is: Least Concern. That means there are plenty in the wild right now — good news!
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