Ever seen such a sight … or seal? Probably not in Georgia.
A gray seal spotted earlier this month in the creek between Sapelo Island and Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge was a rare sight on the state’s coast. A South Carolina charter boat captain videoed the seal. It was also seen by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff who manage the refuge.
Gray seals are North Atlantic animals normally found from the mid-Atlantic to the Baltic Sea. But the sighting of any seal in Georgia is odd. According to DNR records, a harbor seal turned up near Fort McAllister State Park in April 1997 and a live seal – the species wasn’t determined – on Cumberland Island in February 2021. A young gray seal was seen in South Carolina in March 2019 and made it to Florida.
Why does the occasional seal swim so far from home? Good question, according to DNR senior wildlife biologist Mark Dodd. “It’s hard to say. Some gray seals migrate south in the winter to look for food, but it’s also common for young animals to exhibit exploratory behavior.”
Dodd and other biologists emphasized that seals, like all other marine mammals, are federally protected. It is illegal to harm or harass them. Though interesting to see, give them their space.
The seal seen off Blackbeard has a cut on its back. However, the animal appeared to be swimming and diving normally, Dodd said. DNR will monitor it as can but no intervention is planned.
Gray seals are commonly called horseheads because of their large, curved noses (NOAA)
GRAY SEALS AT A GLANCE
- Found in coastal waters throughout the North Atlantic
- Lifespan: 25-35 years (oldest recorded in the wild: 46)
- Size: 550-880 pounds and 7.5-10 feet
- Considered true seals (they have short flippers and no external ear flaps)
- Sometimes called horseheads
- Can dive up to 1,000 feet and hold their breath for an hour
- Face threats including entanglement in commercial fishing gear, harassment, chemical contaminants, oil spills and interactions with vessels and vehicles
Sources: NOAA, Smithsonian National Zoo, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation