The latest estimate of the world population is about 12 million breeding birds, or about 24 million puffins including younger ones that haven't reached breeding age yet. The largest concentrations nest mostly on islands around Iceland, Norway, the Faeroe Islands, British Isles, and eastern Canada. About 365,000 pairs breed in North America from northern Maine in the United States to the Canadian Arctic. These islands are now sanctuaries and are protected from hunting. Enemies Very few animals prey on puffins.
Seagulls eat their eggs if left unattended.
Sometimes the chicks can be eaten by foxes, gulls and other birds large birds, especially when they are testing their wings or making their first flight. Adult puffins can be eaten by orcas and hawks. Threats The greatest threat to puffins is human activity on the sea. Many puffins are killed each year when they become entangled in fishermen's nets or when they are mistaken for murres and killed. Oil pollution from bilge water dumped from large ships at sea kills unknown numbers of puffins yearly.