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Bearded Seal

Estimated Population: unknown

Ways to idenitfy this species: largest seal found in Alaska region, coloration brown or silver-gray, long whiskers and rounded flippers

Biology

Found in seas next to Alaska including the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort.

Usually keeping to themselves, they are only observed together when there is a reduced amount of ice in the summer that forces them to concentrate in certain areas. They are only migratory in their pursuit of ice.

These seals can weigh up to 750 lbs during the winter but they lose significant weight during the spring and summer, dropping up to 425 lbs as a result of less feeding.

The bearded seal eats a variety of fish and invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp and clams.

Female bearded seals have one pup at a time but become pregnant again within two weeks after the pup is weaned. Scars on males are most likely attributed to fighting during breeding season

During the breeding period in the spring, adult male seals “sing” underwater. This whistle is sometimes audible to humans and can alert hunters to their location.

Threats

Although the bearded seal is hunted for food and hide by native Alaskans, the most serious threat to this ice-dependent species is global warming, which is destroying its habitat.

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