March Madness: Harbor Seals Gear up to Mate

While anchored in Horseshoe Cove, I watched a dark phase harbor seal swim by. He arched his back . . .

Dark phase harbor seals have light spots on a dark background.

Seal’s right flipper is showing.

. . . and rolled on his side, showing his right flipper, and dove.

Nearby, a light-phased harbor seal had been bottling, a manner of resting while floating vertically in the water with head raised and eyes often shut.

Two splashes caught my attention, as they confronted each other. With the first pups born in early March, some females will be coming into estrus soon. I can't be sure, but I'd guess these were two males checking each other out--comparing biceps so to speak.

Two harbor seals fling tails at each other. Nikon D600, 200mm lens 1/1000 sec f/7.0, ISO 500 @BethAnnMathews

In harbor seals, and all pinnipeds, the fertilized egg develops briefly to the 100-300 cell stage. The blastocyst, as its called, remains alive but stops growing during a period know as delayed implantation. The duration of suspended growth varies by species and latitude. In harbor seals delayed implantation ranges from 1.5 to 3 months.

Three harbor seals near our anchored sailboat (upper right). This year, I’ve seen more seals resting in Horseshoe Cove than any other of the five years since we’ve been anchoring there.