One of the busiest times for GROWLS is seal pup season. On our
coast, seal pups are born from June to September, with births
peaking in July and August. Seal pups are coming. Very soon
pregnant seal mothers will retire to rocky outcroppings offshore
and “haul-out” to give birth to a single seal pup. Their
gestation period is nine to 11 months. Pups weigh about 11 kg.
when born. They can swim and dive soon after birth, but need
practice to increase skill and endurance. Newborns have large
bright clear eyes, smooth mottled-silver to black skin, and a
barrel-shaped fat body. Seal pups stay with their mother for
four to six weeks and gain weight rapidly, nursing on their
mother’s rich milk. Then they are abruptly weaned. Mating
occurred last year, shortly after the mothers weaned their pups,
and now they are ready to mate again. Males will mate with
several females during late spring and summer. A process known
as delayed implantation occurs so seal pups are born in the
right season. When a seal pup is born prema