New England · 2000—2026
Grey and harbour seals
Seals around New England.
Follow public seal observations from New England. Browse published records, explore the places and stories behind them, or share an encounter with the Seal Watch team.
- Total reports
- 443
- Latest observation
Public reports · newest first
Public records archive
19 October 2003—30 August 2026
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Explore by place
All placesMarkers group reports by reviewed names in their public locations, not exact sighting positions. Circle size reflects report counts. Select a place to filter the archive.
350 of 443 reports mapped · 19 places
New England Six-state outline
Reported places Detail of outlined region
Mapped places North to south
- Eastern Maine12 reports
- Bangor Waterfront1 report
- Downeast Maine / Acadia51 reports
- Midcoast Maine41 reports
- Casco Bay / Portland16 reports
- Southern Maine13 reports
- Seacoast / Isles of Shoals6 reports
- Massachusetts North Shore30 reports
- Boston Harbor / Charles River13 reports
- Holyoke / Connecticut River1 report
- Outer Cape Cod40 reports
- Plymouth / South Shore12 reports
- Lower Cape Cod47 reports
- Mid Cape Cod6 reports
- South Cape / Buzzards Bay17 reports
- Rhode Island coast17 reports
- Martha's Vineyard4 reports
- Connecticut coast15 reports
- Nantucket8 reports
Places without a map point · 93 reports
Broad or unreviewed public locations remain available in the archive.
- Barnstable County10 reports
- Barnstable County waters1 report
- Barnstable County, Massachusetts3 reports
- Brothers Island4 reports
- Bunker Ledge1 report
- Cape Cod3 reports
- Cape Cod / Barnstable1 report
- Cape Cod National Seashore1 report
- Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts1 report
- Cape Cod, Massachusetts1 report
- Hancock County2 reports
- Hancock County, Maine1 report
- Jeffreys Ledge1 report
- Knox County1 report
- Lincoln County2 reports
- Long Island1 report
- Maine coast3 reports
- Maine coastal island, public place only1 report
- Massachusetts coast1 report
- Massachusetts coastal waters1 report
- New England44 reports
- New Hampshire coast, exact site unspecified1 report
- Newport County1 report
- Plymouth County1 report
- Sagadahoc1 report
- Southeastern Stellwagen Bank area1 report
- Washington County1 report
- Washington County, Maine1 report
- West Brother Island1 report
- York County1 report
Map: Natural Earth.
Reports over time
Select a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Ellie Crane / Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company, reported by Chris Popper / WDEA
Observation: Naturalist Ellie Crane filmed a shark attacking one seal near Egg Rock Lighthouse from the tour vessel Miss Samantha. The report does not identify the seal's species.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified John DeRaps, reported by Carrie Jones / Bar Harbor Story
Observation: John DeRaps reported a shark feeding on a seal in the Ironbound channel between Bar Harbor and Winter Harbor and shared a photograph. The seal's species was not identified.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Practical-Garlic-561 — r/acadianationalpark eyewitness post
Observation: An observer reported a seal pup among coastal rocks near Schoodic's East Trailhead around 4 p.m. and shared a photograph. The observer tentatively identified it as a harbour seal; that identification remains uncertain.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Robbie — iNaturalist (robbieedun)
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as grey seal (Halichoerus grypus).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified Kerry Diskin — iNaturalist (kerrydiskin)
Observation: Photographic observation identified on iNaturalist as harbour seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina).
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/48864435
Observation: Multiple Harbor Seals were photographed on rocks along the Maine coast.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/8370743; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/8370744
Observation: A seal haulout was photographed near Sorrento.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7785803
Observation: More than twelve Harbor Seals were photographed hauled out near Bar Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51824400
Observation: One Harbor Seal was photographed near Blue Hill.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7026377
Observation: One Harbor Seal was photographed on seaweed-covered rocks near Winter Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7455097
Observation: A group of Harbor Seals was photographed on rocks and in the water near Egg Rock.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/229376967
Observation: Three Harbor Seals were photographed hauled out on dark rocks near Winter Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6447160
Observation: One Harbor Seal with a spotted coat was photographed hauled out on a rock near Winter Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6176099
Observation: At least two Harbor Seals were photographed hauled out on exposed coastal rocks near Winter Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5772947
Observation: One Harbor Seal was photographed hauled out on a coastal rock near Cranberry Isles.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4493232
Observation: One Grey Seal was photographed swimming near Winter Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4488917
Observation: A small seal head was photographed in coastal water near Winter Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4413098
Observation: One Harbor Seal was photographed with its head above coastal water near Winter Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4238218; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4238216; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4238217
Observation: Seals were photographed during a coastal outing near Winter Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51812734
Observation: A Harbor Seal was photographed swimming near Blue Hill.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13134742; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13135219
Observation: Seals were photographed among rocks and kelp near Bar Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3999290
Observation: A seal was photographed among rocks and kelp near Frenchboro.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3744742; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3744744; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3744745
Observation: Harbor Seals were photographed on rocks near Mount Desert.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3584011
Observation: A distant seal was photographed on a rock near Winter Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41216418
Observation: A seal was photographed on a rock near Skillings River.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17865603; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6100619; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17865507
Observation: A mixed group of seals was photographed hauled out near Bar Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9786237
Observation: A group of seals was photographed hauled out near Bar Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/164435204
Observation: Many seals were photographed hauled out among rocky islets near Mount Desert.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176214315
Observation: A group of seals was photographed hauled out near Gouldsboro.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176214322
Observation: A group of seals was photographed hauled out near Gouldsboro.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1726592
Observation: A group of seals was photographed near Egg Rock.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2586039
Observation: Seals were photographed from a kayak in Mount Desert Narrows.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/79989257; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/79989266
Observation: Seals were photographed along the Maine and Acadia coast.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/235463007
Observation: A seal was photographed hauled out near Bar Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/356307851
Observation: A seal was photographed swimming near Bar Harbor.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202238048
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. One clear Harbor Seal is close in water; separate dated encounter from 202267584.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202267584
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. One marine mammal is in water; observer notes “Otter or Seal” and the source community ID says Harbor Seal. Species remains uncertain. The map pin appears inland/inconsistent, so only broad Bar Harbor coast is retained.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34235740
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. One live seal head is visible in water; source attribution is Harbor Seal.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84653169
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. Many Harbor Seals are on rocks; original public page date 30 July is retained despite UTC/API display that may appear as 31 July.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/260293672
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. Many live seals are on coastal rocks; current Harbor Seal identification is retained as probable and count is unset.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/30282252
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photographs reviewed. Two live seals are on shore rocks; two photographs confirm the same count. Observer notes express Grey versus Harbor uncertainty; current Grey Seal identification is retained as probable, with no subspecies claim.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6889508
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. Many live seals are at a coastal haul-out; the map is obscured and the displayed clock is anomalous. Current Grey Seal identification is retained as probable. A separate Maverick Elephant Seal ID is not adopted.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140284825
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. One live Harbor Seal is swimming; no subspecies claim.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33101842
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. A group of live harbor seals is hauled out on seaweed-covered rocks; overlapping bodies make exact count unreliable.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61434712
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photographs reviewed. A large mixed haulout is visible on rocks. Source comments indicate both harbor and grey seals; exact count is unreliable because bodies overlap, and the page header is not applied to all animals.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29881961
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. One live harbor seal is visible in surf.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/384002694
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. One live harbor seal is visible. The page title and profile attribution differ; the source attribution is preserved without resolving that discrepancy.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10912573
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist observation reviewed. Source IDs: 10912573. Original page has visible photograph asset and research-grade grey seal identification.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73300087
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist observation reviewed. Source IDs: 73300087. Original page has visible photograph assets and research-grade harbor seal identification.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/314045837
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist observation reviewed. Source IDs: 314045837. Original page has four visible photograph assets and research-grade harbor seal identification.
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Date:Reported: Unidentified https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9463557
Observation: Direct original iNaturalist observation reviewed. Source IDs: 9463557. Original photograph asset and page show research-grade harbor seal at Egg Rock Lighthouse.