Seals capture the imagination of people worldwide with their adorable faces and sleek, chubby bodies. But how friendly are seals in real life? If you’ve ever wondered whether you can get up close and personal with these marine mammals, you’re not alone.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Wild seals should not be approached, as they can be aggressive and pose safety risks to humans. However, some trained captive seals may interact gently with humans.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about seal behavior. You’ll learn how different seal species act in the wild, how they interact with humans in zoos and aquariums, safety precautions to take, and more.
Key Facts on Seal Behavior and Temperament
Seals are Wild Animals with Instinctive Reactions
Seals are wild animals that can be unpredictable. Their reactions depend on instinct rather than rational thought. When threatened, seals may flee, vocalize warnings, or attack with bites and slaps. Mother seals are especially defensive of their pups and may become aggressive to protect their young.
Seals spend most of their lives at sea and feel most comfortable in the water. If disturbed on land, their instinct is to retreat to the safety of the ocean. Loud noises, fast movements, or encroachment into their space can startle seals and elicit a flight response.
Behavior Varies by Species and Situation
There are over 30 species of seals worldwide, and their temperaments are diverse. Elephant seals are more aggressive than harbor seals, for example. Pups separated from their mothers react differently than healthy adults. Behavior also depends on the situation.
During breeding season, male seals compete for mates and defend territories more vigorously. A sick or injured seal may lash out from fear. Healthy seals tend to flee from humans first before resorting to aggression.
Understanding the natural history of each species provides insight into their expected reactions.
Captive Seals Can Be Trained to Interact Safely
Seals at zoos, aquariums, or theme parks typically undergo extensive training to interact safely with humans. Their handlers use positive reinforcement to condition desirable behaviors. These seals learn to tolerate being touched, publicly fed, checked by vets, and even perform tricks.
However, captive seals retain natural instincts and do not enjoy aggressive handling. Most facilities limit public contact to reduce stress on their animals. While friendly in controlled settings, captive seals may still bite or slap if mistreated.
How Seals Behave in the Wild
Seals Tend to Avoid Humans in the Wild
Seals generally try to steer clear of humans when encountered in the wild. These marine mammals evolved near coastlines and beaches, overlapping with human activity, but tend to perceive humans as potential threats.
When seals spot humans nearby, they typically retreat into the water or haul out on rocks in an attempt to put more distance between themselves and people. Some exceptional cases involve hungry seals drawn to fishing boats in search of an easy meal.
Mother Seals Defend Their Pups Fiercely
Mother seals display protective and aggressive behaviors towards their pups, especially shortly after giving birth. If a person or perceived predator approaches a seal mom and pup, the mother may hiss, bellow, or charge to scare off the intruder.
Mother seals have strong maternal instincts and may risk their own safety to defend their young pups that cannot yet swim or survive alone. Despite their typically shy and skittish nature around humans, seals value protecting their offspring above all else.
Bull Seals Get Aggressive During Mating Season
Each year from November to January, seals come ashore to mate and give birth to pups. Hormonal changes make bull seals more aggressive than usual during breeding season. The bulls fight each other to establish dominance and control territories with the best sunbathing rocks and most mates.
Their testosterone-fueled aggression sometimes even directs towards people who venture too close. Despite their immense size difference, bull seals challenge humans that represent threats. One memorable incident occurred in 2021 when a bull seal chased a diver over 650 feet onto shore!
Sick or Injured Seals Lash Out When Approached
Sick, wounded, or entangled seals exhibit higher levels of aggression due to their vulnerable states. While healthy seals normally keep their distance, injured seals may feel unable to escape from humans who impede on their space.
Without the option to flee, they resort to aggressive defensive behaviors like lunging, snapping their powerful jaws, and swinging their flippers with claw-lined edges. Conservationists urge people to avoid approaching seals that appear ill, wounded, or tangled in debris, and instead contact marine mammal rescue centers to handle the animals safely.
Seal Encounters at Zoos and Aquariums
Some zoos and aquariums provide opportunities for visitors to have supervised interactions with seals in controlled settings. While policies vary by facility, these encounters aim to be safe for both humans and seals when proper protocols are followed.
Some Facilities Allow Supervised Seal Interactions
Many accredited zoos and aquariums carefully manage seal interaction programs as part of their education and conservation efforts. These encounters are supervised by trained staff and typically have restrictions to protect animal welfare.
For example, the Georgia Aquarium offers a “Sea Lion Experience” where small groups can interact with California sea lions under close staff supervision.
Physical Contact Should Follow Trainer Guidance
During supervised seal interactions, visitors should follow trainer instructions for appropriate physical contact like gentle petting. Attempting to hug, kiss, or wrestle with seals could stress the animals and risks safety issues.
Programs emphasize respectful engagement that supports seals’ comfort levels.
Trainers Use Positive Reinforcement to Shape Seal Behavior
At facilities with seal interaction programs, trainers use positive reinforcement techniques, not punishment, to modify seal behaviors. For instance, rewarding desired actions with fish helps shape friendly responses to human visitors.
This professional animal training promotes willing seal participation in encounters.
Staying Safe Around Seals
Keep Your Distance from Wild Seals
When encountering seals in the wild, it’s crucial to keep a safe distance. While seals may seem cute and harmless, they are still wild animals that can be unpredictable if approached. Most experts recommend keeping at least 50 yards (150 feet) away from any wild seal you encounter.
Getting too close can cause the seal to feel threatened. This may provoke an aggressive reaction, such as lunging or vocalizing. Startled seals may also flee rapidly back into the water, which expends precious energy. Repeated disturbances can cause significant stress for seals over time.
Seals may also carry diseases or parasites transmissible to humans, so avoiding close contact helps reduce the risk of potential infection. Maintaining an appropriate distance keeps both you and the seals safe and comfortable.
Avoid Seals Acting Erratically or Showing Signs of Distress
While observing seals, it’s important to watch closely for any concerning behaviors. Healthy seals lying calmly or sleeping are ideal. But seals acting erratically, such as weaving/stumbling, vocalizing repeatedly, or shivering, may indicate illness or distress.
Avoid approaching or disturbing these seals, as they require space.
Seals that appear entangled in marine debris like fishing nets or plastic require intervention. Yet direct interaction by untrained individuals can worsen the situation. The safest option is to contact local marine mammal rescue organizations immediately to arrange an expert rescue response.
Give Seals Space to Escape Out of Water
When seals haul out on land, they need adequate space to move away from the water’s edge. Getting too close can prevent seals from being able to return to the water quickly if needed. This is especially dangerous for mothers and pups, who require immediate access to the water to avoid overheating.
A general rule of thumb is to stay back the length of one adult seal from the water’s edge. This gives ample room for seals to move and eliminates inhibiting their access. Remaining quiet and motionless when seals start entering or exiting water also helps them feel undisturbed.
Never Feed or Touch a Wild Seal
Despite their endearing appearance, you should never feed or touch a wild seal. Seals are powerful predators with extremely sharp teeth capable of causing serious injury, even when not acting aggressively. Their strong jaws allow them to tear flesh and break bones with ease.
Feeding seals also leads to problematic behavior, as they begin to associate humans with food. This causes them to approach boats and populated areas more frequently, increasing the likelihood of attacks or transmission of disease. It’s better to admire seals safely from a distance.
When Seals Pose Threats to Humans
Bites and Other Injuries
Seals can inflict bites and other injuries on humans when feeling threatened. Most commonly, seal bites occur when humans get too close to seal pups. An aggressive seal parent may attack to protect its young.
Though rare, bites can result in serious injury and require medical attention to avoid infection.
Other seal-inflicted injuries include scratches, bruises, and knockdowns from the force of their bodies colliding with humans. These generally happen when people startle or corner seals. Seals can also unintentionally harm swimmers and surfers with their fins.
Transmission of Zoonotic Diseases
Seals can transmit zoonotic diseases to humans, meaning diseases that can spread between animals and people. This occurs through direct contact with seals, especially their bodily fluids, or indirectly via food or water contamination.
Diseases seals may harbour include:
- Seal finger – a bacterial skin infection
- Brucellosis – causes fever, joint pain, and fatigue
- Leptospirosis – leads to flu-like symptoms and liver/kidney damage
- Salmonella – results in diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps
Using gloves and masks when handling seals can reduce disease risks. Proper cooking of seal meat kills bacteria. Vaccines are available for some seal-related illnesses.
Interference with Fishing Activity and Gear
In some regions, seal overpopulation has increased competition with fisheries. Hungry seals may tamper with fishing gear to reach caught fish. A 2021 Norwegian study found:
- Seals caused damage to 10-20% of coastal nets/traps
- Resulting financial losses estimated around $5.3 million per year
Seals also snatch fish directly off lines and scare schools of fish away. Their presence in aquaculture sites can negatively impact operations. Many groups argue culling seal numbers may benefit fisheries. However, seal culls spark controversy regarding ethics and true efficacy.
Conclusion
Seals may look cute and cuddly, but they are still wild animals that should not be approached carelessly. Under supervised conditions, trained captive seals can interact gently and safely with humans. However, in nature, seals tend to avoid humans and may become aggressive if they feel threatened.
By being respectful of their space and behavior cues, we can all enjoy safely observing seals in their natural habitats.
