About 22 monk seals visit Midway intermittantly from Pearl and Hermes, and Kure Atoll. Monk seal population currently being studied by Hawaii Wildlife Fund, and National Marine Fisheries Service researchers. 500 m. Resting takes place on isolated and undisturbed beaches. Breeding Sexually mature at age 4-7 years. Females begin breeding at 5-6 years.
Males bite the back of females while mating and can rip skin and blubber.
Mating takes place in the water. Pregnant females will not give birth on beaches where there is much human activity. Most pups born between February and July. Eleven pups born on Midway in 1997 and in 1998. Most sexually mature females give birth every other year.