Mammals
Gray Seal
Halichoerus grypus · also called grey seal
Hauled out on a sandbar off the northeastern coast, a gray seal’s long, horse-like snout distinguishes it easily from smaller seals nearby, part of a recovering population success story that has also, somewhat unexpectedly, drawn growing numbers of white sharks closer to shore.
Overview
The gray seal, Halichoerus grypus, is a large true seal native to coastal and nearshore ocean waters across the North Atlantic, including the eastern coast of North America and coastlines of northern Europe. Its distinctive long snout, significant recovery from historical hunting, and unexpected role in drawing increased white shark activity closer to shore make it one of the more conservation-notable and ecologically consequential marine mammals found in the North Atlantic today.
A recovery with unexpected ripple effects
The gray seal’s successful rebound from historical population declines has done more than simply restore its own numbers, indirectly reshaping coastal shark activity patterns as growing seal colonies draw predators back into waters they had largely abandoned.
Status
Least Concern and increasing, having recovered substantially from historical hunting declines in the North Atlantic following legal protection.
Gray Seal: common questions
Why does the gray seal have such a distinctive snout?
This species has a notably long, straight snout that gives it a somewhat horse-like facial profile, a distinctive feature reflected directly in its scientific name and one of the most reliable ways to distinguish it from other seal species sharing North Atlantic coastal waters.
How is the growing gray seal population connected to white sharks?
The recovering population of this species off the northeastern United States has been linked by researchers to an increase in white shark activity closer to shore, since gray seals serve as a significant prey species for large sharks, drawing them into coastal areas they previously visited less frequently.
Has the gray seal recovered from past population declines?
Yes, this species was significantly reduced by historical hunting in parts of the North Atlantic, but populations have recovered substantially in recent decades following legal protection, now considered widespread and increasing across suitable coastal habitat throughout its range.
How big can a gray seal get?
This species is one of the larger true seals found in the North Atlantic, with males considerably outweighing females, a size difference typical of many seal species and one that becomes especially apparent during the breeding season when males compete for territory.