seal.watch / new england

New England · public record

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New England · observation

Orleans

· Massachusetts

Direct original iNaturalist page and photograph reviewed. One very distant seal head is visible; visual certainty is limited.

Species
Grey seal
Number of seals
1
Attributed name
Unidentified
Source
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/261669224

About this record

Supporting evidence
Original page: observed 29 July 2009 in Orleans, Massachusetts. One distant seal head is visible; source identification is Grey Seal but the photograph does not support stronger confidence.
Identification confidence
Uncertain
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.

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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