|
| Distribution |
In NC, there are a handful of records of strandings along the coast, mostly north of Cape Hatteras.
The northern part of the North Atlantic Ocean, from the Canadian Maritimes north to Newfoundland, and moving southward in winter into cool waters off the northeastern states, sparingly as far south as NC. |
| Abundance |
Increasing in its range, and generally fairly common to common. In NC waters, currently a rare winter visitor, in the colder months, south to Cape Hatteras, and single records south to Bogue Banks (Carteret County) and Carolina Beach (New Hanover County). Prior to about 1997, apparently not known from NC. First record was likely between 1997-2000, as NOAA reported one NC stranding within that time period. Since then, NOAA reports about 8 additional strandings in NC, through 2009. There is another report of a stranding on 17 March 2011 (at Kitty Hawk), and a very recent one in mid-May, 2013 at Carolina Beach. On the other hand, the USNM database (2021) contains only one specimen record for the state. However, the iNaturalist website contains 8 photos of Research Grade, in 2018-2019, all from Dare County; a few may well refer to the same beached animal. |
| Seasonal Occurrence |
Primarily during the colder months -- winter into spring, as this represents individuals dispersing southward in the middle of winter. |
| Habitat |
Cold waters, in the inshore ocean. |
| Behavior |
|
| Comments |
We are unable to locate records of Gray Seal along the NC coast or in NC waters prior to the very late 1990s. As this species appears to be increasing within its range, it is no surprise that strandings were apparently unknown along our coast in nearly all of the 20th Century. This is the largest of the Atlantic seals, and it is often considered as a "pest" by fisherman because it competes for fish and damages fishing nets. |
| Origin |
Native |
| NC List |
Official |
 State Rank |
S1M |
| State Status |
|
| Global Rank |
G5 |
| Federal Status |
|
| subspecies |
Halichoerus grypus grypus |
| other_comName |
Grey Seal |
| synonym |
|
