seal.watch / new england

New England · public record

← Back to the archive

New England · observation

Wellfleet

· Massachusetts

Direct original iNaturalist page and photographs reviewed. Seals are swimming in surf; multiple dark heads or bodies are visible, so count remains unset. Source identifications include family-level and grey seal.

Species
Grey seal
Number of seals
Not recorded
Attributed name
Unidentified
Source
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169839623

About this record

Supporting evidence
Original page: observed 22 September 2008 in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Two visible photographs show seals swimming in surf; current page identification is Atlantic Grey Seal but source IDs also include family-level identification.
Identification confidence
Probable
Editorial status
Published by Seal Watch.

Source wording, attributed names and approximate date labels are preserved. A published report does not establish a verified animal identity.

Share this observation

Other reports with the same broad area or attributed name.

Great Point Beach, Nantucket

Witnesses described one seal being attacked just offshore and another seal coming ashore. Carrie Drayton recorded the encounter. The source describes two seals but does not identify their species; the shark's identification was subsequently assessed by Gregory Skomal.

Source: Carrie Drayton / Tyler O'Brien, reported by Beth Treffeisen, Boston.com

Southeastern Stellwagen Bank area

The observer reported one grey seal at 11:45 a.m. during a Dolphin Fleet whale-watch trip from Provincetown. The account places the trip around the southeastern corner of Stellwagen Bank.

Source: alex_grady913 — iNaturalist, Dolphin Fleet trip account

Lucy Vincent Beach, Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard

A dead grey seal with a visible wound was discovered on the beach. Andrew Jacobs investigated it the next day; New England Aquarium scientist John Chisholm assessed photographs and found the wound consistent with a white-shark bite.

Source: New England Aquarium; Andrew Jacobs / Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)

West Beach, New Bedford

Jarred Seth observed one seal resting on the sand during a walk near West Beach. The article includes attributed imagery and describes the seal as resting; it does not identify the species.

Source: Jarred Seth, reported by Gazelle / FUN 107