Page - January 16, 2008
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.