A. Social behavior.
1. Unlike most pinnipeds, adult harbor seals are usually solitary and rarely interact other than to mate. Sometimes, however, they haul out in loosely organized groups. These groups may include both sexes and all ages.
2. Harbor seals generally do not touch each other when hauled out. They maintain a space between them of a meter or more (several feet). If touched by another harbor seal, they respond with growling, snorting, aggressive flipper-waving, head-butting, scratching, or biting.
3. Young harbor seals interact with each other on the fringes of the group and stay away from the adults. Harbor seals become less playful and less tolerant of close contact as they mature.
Once weaned, harbor seals become less tolerant of contact with other
individuals. They may maintain space by aggressively waving a foreflipper.
B. Individual behavior.
1. Harbor seals often haul out onto land. While most harbor seals have been observed hauling out during the afternoon, they may do so at any time of the day or night and for any length of time.
a. While on land, harbor seals rarely move from one location. They remain alert and wary, however, and turn their heads frequently to watch for potential danger.
b. Studies show that, within a season, harbor seals tend to return to one or two particular haul-out sites with regularity. The preferred sites may change seasonally.
2. Harbor seals show aggression by growling, snorting, and waving threateningly with a foreflipper. Another aggressive behavior is head-thrusting—sharp, rapid extension and retraction of the neck. Fighting is rare, except between competing males during the mating season.
C. Interaction with other species.
Harbor seals often are found sharing haul-out space with other pinnipeds, such as California sea lions and Northern elephant seals. Harbor seals rarely interact with other species but show aggression if threatened.
D. Communication and vocalization.
1. Harbor seals are probably the least vocal of all pinnipeds. They usually vocalize only when they feel threatened; they may snort, hiss, growl, or sneeze.
2. Pups vocalize more frequently than adults, especially with their mothers. Pups' sheep-like cries are individually distinctive to their mothers.
3. A harbor seal may slap the water or its own body with a pectoral flipper to show aggression, or during courtship.
4. Some studies indicate that harbor seals may use echolocation to find food. Scientists have recorded faint clicking sounds during the final stages of catching prey.
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