They have short front flippers, large eyes and thick, prominent whiskers. Subject to seasonal climates, harbor seals are shy and tend to stay isolated, even though they live near the shore in most warm temperate to cold climates in the northern oceans.
Harbor seals return annually to traditional breeding sites.
According to the Buttonwood Park Zoo s web site, congregating annually at the same site makes harbor seal populations particularly susceptible to environmental changes. An oil spill or disturbance by boating could cause seals to abandon a site. And, disturbance during nursing can lead to the death of pups, due to separation from or abandonment by the mother. Although aquatic creatures, seals do retain links to the land. They give birth on land.