Grey Seals

Grey seals feed predominantly on small bait fish like sand eel and dragonet, but, here in Cornish waters, they will also feed on mackerel and herring, flatfish like plaice as well as skates, and rays. They are quite opportunistic though, and will chomp down on just about anything they can grab a hold of including, squid and crustaceans, like crab and lobster. Bigger meals that are too awkward to swallow down in one, they will hold in their flippers at the surface and tear chunks off

Yes, seals are mammals, which means they’re warm-blooded, feed their young with milk, and breathe air. They’ve adapted to doing this all while living much of their lives in the water. Pretty amazing if you ask us!

A baby seal is known as a pup and a female grey seal will produce just one pup each year. She feeds her pup with milk she produces in her mammary glands which has extremely high-fat content (about 60% fat) in order to build up the pup’s blubber reserves so it can survive in the cold sea water. A grey seal pup only stays with its mother for the first three weeks of its life so every drop of milk counts. In fact, just within those first few weeks, the seals will grow up to three or four times their original birth weight. After that their mother heads off and leaves them to discover the world on their own.

Seals are members of the ‘true seal’ family which includes grey seals, common (or harbour) seals, leopard seals and elephant seals; whereas seal lions are members of the ‘eared seal’ family which also includes fur seals. Seals and sea lions are both pinnipeds, meaning “winged foot”, referring to their webbed flippers. True seals have much smaller flippers and caterpillar along on the land to move. They also do not have external ‘ears’, instead just small holes either sides of their head. Eared seals have longer flippers with their hind flippers bending under their body like feet, enabling them to waddle on land and be faster and more agile in the water. They also have external ear flaps.

Here in Cornwall, grey seals (males in particular) grow to very large sizes. Like all animals, seals will defend themselves if they feel threatened and female seals will be protective of their pups. It is advised never to approach a seal, try to touch one, or swim up to them in the water as they may be unsure of your intentions and get defensive. As long as seals are treated with respect and given the space they need, they are beautiful animals to observe. Rest assured when you’re on board a Padstow Sealife Safari trip, we keep a respectful distance and monitor the seals’ body language to ensure they are happy and calm in our presence.

There are no close connections between seals and dogs which is surprising especially as the grey seal is known for its Labrador shaped head. Seals, dogs and also bears are all part of the Caniformes group of animals, which means dog-like, and both seals and dogs are mammals but that’s as close as they come.

You should NEVER feed seals! Seals are extremely efficient hunters and do not need handouts from people. Feeding seals creates an association between boats or people and food, and if seals become accustomed to coming close to boats, they are then at high risk of a boat strike. Humans dangling a fish for a seal put themselves at risk of a very nasty bite if the seal mistakes your arm or hand or food.

A group of seals is known as a colony, a rookery or a herd. However, grey seals are often solitary and will hunt and travel alone, only coming together to rest in safe places or to breed.

Seals can make a variety of noises, including honks, snarls, hissing, and roars. Pups make noises similar to crying, human babies.