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Animal Guide

Pacific Harbour Seal

19 destinations · 11 states

Native Range
North Pacific coastal waters and the Arctic

The Pacific harbour seal may look relaxed as it floats near the surface, but watch a little longer and its aquatic skills become obvious. A seal can disappear beneath the water in a smooth, almost effortless dive, then reappear somewhere else in the exhibit minutes later. Its rounded head, short snout, and large eyes give it a gentle expression, while sensitive whiskers help detect movement in the water and locate prey. On land or a haul-out platform, harbour seals move in an awkward rolling motion that contrasts sharply with their graceful swimming. That difference is part of the fun of watching them. In the water, flexible bodies and strong hind flippers let them turn quickly and maneuver around rocks with ease. Pacific harbour seals live along cold coastal waters from the North Pacific toward the Arctic, where they hunt fish, squid, and other marine prey. If one swims directly toward the glass, watch its whiskers and eyes as it changes direction. Those small movements reveal just how much information a seal can gather while exploring its surroundings.

Pacific Harbour Seal

Where to see Pacific Harbour Seal

19 destinations across 11 states

19 destinations

Alaska SeaLife Center

Seward, AK

Aquarium of Niagara

Niagara Falls, NY

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach, CA

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno, CA

Jenkinson's Aquarium

Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Los Angeles Zoo

Los Angeles, CA

Moody Gardens

Galveston, TX

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic, CT

New York Aquarium

Brooklyn, NY

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Newport, OR

Oregon Zoo

Portland, OR

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, WA

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Columbia, SC

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle, WA

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando, FL

SeaWorld San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

SeaWorld San Diego

San Diego, CA

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Vallejo, CA

Utah's Hogle Zoo

Salt Lake City, UT

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