Have you ever been near the sea on a calm morning, heard an indignant huff and turned to see twitching whiskers and an inquisitive pair of eyes peering at you from just above the water? Abi O’Leary introduces us to the grey seal.
T
he UK is home to two species of seal: the cat-like common (or harbour) seal, and the larger, more populous grey seal. Between 35–40 per cent of the world’s grey seal population is found off our coasts, which accounts for around 95 per
cent of the European population. With an extensive coastline offering haul-out sites and secluded, inaccessible beaches for the breeding season, the UK provides the perfect grey seal habitat. Grey seals live in large social groups that can be thousands
strong, yet they don’t form close relationships and are usually solitary hunters. Te only breeding colony in the north-west is at the Trust’s South Walney Nature Reserve, near Barrow-in-Furness. In springtime, grey seals are frequently seen hauling out on land
when they are moulting, and also in the autumn and winter when breeding. Tey prefer secluded beaches or coves that are usually inaccessible to people, so they can rest for long periods of time without being disturbed. A layer of blubber 6–10cm thick keeps them warm when hauled out, reducing the effect of wind chill if they are stationary for long periods. You can tell the difference between males and females by their
size. Males can grow up to three metres long and weigh up to 350kg, whereas females grow up to two metres long and weigh up to 200kg. Te males also have bigger, more pronounced noses and are darker in colour, whereas the females are silver-grey with dark motling. Females can live to around 40 years, with the oldest ever recorded reaching 46 years, whilst males generally do not survive past 25–30 years old due to the strain of gaining and defending territories.
Cumbrian iai W d Cumbr Wnldliifle | Nlifeo | Maber 2 vemrch 2025 15
© ROB JORDAN/2020VISION
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