Common Seal (Harbour Seal) Phoca vitulina
The Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) – also known as the Harbour Seal – is a familiar presence on Suffolk's coast, hauling out on offshore sandbanks and occasionally appearing in estuaries and along the shoreline. The Wash and North Sea sandbanks support one of Britain's most significant populations, and individuals regularly move south along the coast. In Suffolk, seals are regularly seen from beaches at Blythburgh, Orford, and Felixstowe Ferry, and around offshore sandbanks. The species pups in June and July, and disturbance at haul-out sites – particularly from dogs and boats – can be harmful during this sensitive period. Image: © Nick Goodrum, Flickr.
Find out more: Mammal Society, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, iNaturalist
Suffolk’s Priority Mammal Species
Key
Listed as a conservation priority in Suffolk’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
Closely associated with Suffolk’s landscape and natural identity.
Identified as a key priority for recovery under Suffolk’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Has a Species of the Month article attached.
