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Grey Seal behaviour

  • 29-10-2013 02:56PM
    #1
    Saurophaganax
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40 ✭


    Hi All

    In recent weeks I've noticed Grey Seals appearing much closer to the shore than usual, lounging around off the beach and pier without any apparent fear of humans. In particular, I've noticed on a few occasions over the last three weeks what appear to be a bull and calf swimming together. Can someone please explain this to me - is this courtship behaviour? Because I understood Grey Seals hauled out and amassed harems on land.

    Cheers,
    S
    Tagged:


Comments

  • #2
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,989 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/marine-environment/species/19887/20814/20877

    They have pups at this time of year. The females abandon the pups after a few weeks at the colony and mate again.

    A couple of times I've seen the pups washed up and exposed on a beach in November after storms, all on their own and looking exhausted. This is when people pick them up and take them to the seal sanctuaries.

    If they had the pups in the summer it would be a lot easier for them, but maybe its a kind of test; if they can survive that as pups, they will survive anything the sea can throw at them later.


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