While out on the water in Southeast Alaska, keep your eyes peeled for a sleek, silvery head bobbing in the water. The harbor seals in Ketchikan quietly observe their surroundings with soulful eyes and a calm presence. While often overshadowed by orcas and bears in Alaska’s wildlife spotlight, harbor seals are essential to the natural and cultural fabric of Southeast Alaska.
In this blog, we’re diving into why harbor seals matter, how they’re connected to Indigenous traditions, and some fun facts that will give you a whole new appreciation for these marine mammals — especially when you spot one on your next Ketchikan Wildlife Tour.
What Are Harbor Seals?
Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), also known as “common seals,” are one of the most familiar — yet often underappreciated — marine mammals in Alaska’s coastal waters. Found along the North Pacific Ocean from Baja California to the icy fjords of Southeast Alaska, these quiet creatures have perfectly adapted to life in one of the most dynamic and dramatic marine environments on Earth.
Their appearance is both charming and practical. With rounded, cat-like heads, large dark eyes, and no visible ear flaps, harbor seals are instantly recognizable — especially when their heads pop above the water like curious periscopes. Their dense, water-resistant fur is beautifully patterned with spots and rings, offering natural camouflage against rocky shorelines and kelp forests.
Unlike sea lions, which use their large front flippers to “walk” on land and vocalize loudly in groups, harbor seals are more reserved, using a belly-flopping motion called “galumphing” to move awkwardly on shore. But in the water, they’re agile and graceful, using their powerful hind flippers for propulsion and steering with their forelimbs and body.
Quick Facts About Harbor Seals
Scientific Name: Phoca vitulina
Common Name: Harbor Seal (also known as Common Seal)
Size:
Adult harbor seals typically weigh between 180 to 285 pounds, with males being slightly larger than females. They can grow up to 5 to 6 feet long. Despite their size, they’re incredibly streamlined — built for efficiency in the water.
Diet:
They are opportunistic carnivores, feeding on a wide variety of prey, including herring, salmon, pollock, cod, squid, octopus, and crustaceans. Their sensitive whiskers, called vibrissae, can detect subtle movements in the water, allowing them to hunt in murky or dark conditions. Foraging dives often last several minutes and can reach depths over 1,500 feet.
Lifespan:
Did you know that in the wild, harbor seals can live up to 25–30 years? However, their lifespan may be shortened by predators (like orcas and sharks), disease, or environmental changes.
Behavior:
Although typically solitary, harbor seals often rest on land or ice in loose groups for warmth, safety, and bonding. They can be seen lounging on rocky outcrops, glacial ice, or even docks. During pupping season (late spring through summer in Southeast Alaska), mother seals nurse and raise pups in these haul-out sites. Pups can swim within hours of birth and are weaned within a month.
Adaptations:
Harbor seals are true seals (phocids), which means they lack external ear flaps. They also cannot rotate their hind flippers forward to move on land. But they excel in water, capable of slowing their heart rate and storing oxygen in their blood and muscles. Furthermore, they can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes while diving.
Why Harbor Seals Matter to Ketchikan's Ecosystem
Harbor seals play a key role in Southeast Alaska’s marine ecosystem. As both predator and prey, they help maintain balance in the food web. Their diet keeps fish populations in check, and they, in turn, provide food for orcas and other apex predators.
But beyond their ecological role, they’re also indicators of ocean health. Scientists monitor harbor seal populations to assess changes in marine ecosystems, climate impacts, and human influence.
A Deep Cultural Connection: Harbor Seals and Southeast Alaska Native Groups
To the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people, harbor seals are far more than just wildlife. They are woven into the traditions, stories, and survival of these Indigenous communities.
For centuries, harbor seals have provided:
Sustenance: Seal meat and oil were vital sources of nutrition.
Material: Seal skins were used for clothing, waterproof gear, and even boat coverings.
Spiritual Symbolism: In oral histories and clan stories, seals are often revered as spiritual beings, shapeshifters, or totemic figures representing endurance, adaptability, and kinship with the sea.
Today, the connection remains strong, with many Native families continuing to engage in traditional harvesting practices. There will always be a deep respect for sustainability and the seal’s spirit.
Where to See Harbor Seals on a Ketchikan Wildlife Tour
The coastline and protected coves around Ketchikan offer ideal spots to see harbor seals in their natural habitat. On our wildlife tours, you might see them:
Lounging on rocky outcrops, especially during low tide
Popping their heads above the surface to curiously watch our boat
Swimming near salmon runs, taking advantage of the seasonal feast
Their quiet, almost shy demeanor makes sightings feel especially intimate — like a gentle nod from nature itself.
5 Fun and Fascinating Harbor Seal Facts
They can dive over 1,500 feet deep and hold their breath for up to 30 minutes!
Each seal’s spot pattern is unique, like a fingerprint.
Harbor seals don’t have external ears, but they have exceptional underwater hearing.
Pups can swim within hours of being born and grow quickly on their mother’s rich milk.
When resting in water, they often strike the “banana pose” — arching their head and tail above the surface.
Threats to Harbor Seals — And How We’re Protecting Them
While harbor seals may seem abundant along Alaska’s coastline, their populations face a number of growing threats, both natural and human-made. As a keystone species in Southeast Alaska, protecting them means protecting the broader marine ecosystem — and the traditions and communities that depend on it.
Environmental and Human Threats to Harbor Seals:
Climate Change: Warming oceans, melting glaciers, and shifting prey availability can disrupt habitats and food sources — especially for pups born on ice.
Pollution: Marine debris, chemical runoff, and oil spills can harm seals and contaminate their prey.
Human Disturbance: Increased boat traffic and shoreline activity can displace seals from essential resting and pupping areas.
Entanglement: Seals can become trapped in fishing gear or marine debris, often with fatal consequences.
Competition for Food: As commercial fishing intensifies, seals may face more competition for key prey species like salmon and herring.
Conservation Efforts in Action
Harbor seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which prohibits harassment, hunting, or killing of marine mammals in U.S. waters. Thanks to organizations like NOAA Fisheries, conservation efforts are ongoing and evolving.
Key initiatives include:
Population Monitoring Programs
Tribal and Community Stewardship
Responsible Wildlife Tourism Guidelines
Climate Impact Research
Protecting Harbor Seals Starts with Awareness
Curious to learn more about the science behind harbor seal conservation?
Visit NOAA Fisheries for expert research, population data, and ongoing protection efforts.
Why Harbor Seals Are a Must-See in Ketchikan
In a region teeming with dramatic wildlife, harbor seals are often the quiet, overlooked residents. But their cultural depth, environmental importance, and gentle nature make them one of the most meaningful creatures to encounter on any Southeast Alaska adventure.
Whether you’re a wildlife lover, a photographer, or someone seeking a deeper connection with Alaska’s natural and cultural heritage, keep your eyes peeled on your next tour — you just might spot a harbor seal watching you back.
Planning a Ketchikan Wildlife Tour while you’re on your Alaskan Cruise? Don’t miss the chance to see harbor seals in their element. Book your spot with us and experience Southeast Alaska through the eyes of its most soulful sea dwellers.