Overview

The grey seal is Britain's larger seal species, with males reaching over two metres and cows nursing pups on remote beaches each autumn. Pups are born with white lanugo coats and triple their weight in three weeks on exceptionally rich milk before moulting to grey.

Grey seals are inquisitive and often follow boats or watch walkers from the surf. Bulls develop distinctive Roman noses with age — the profile that separates them from the smaller, dog-faced common seal.

Habitat

Rocky coastlines, offshore islands, and sand beaches in Scotland, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Wales hold major grey seal colonies. They forage widely at sea on fish and squid, hauling out on beaches to rest and breed.

Countries found

Grey Seal in United Kingdom

Interesting facts

01
Grey seal pups triple their weight in three weeks on rich mothers' milk.
02
The UK hosts nearly 40% of the world's grey seal population.
03
Bulls can weigh over 300 kilograms — cows are much smaller.

Conservation status

LC — Least Concern

Grey seals are Least Concern globally, and UK populations have recovered strongly since hunting was banned. Disturbance on pupping beaches remains the main local threat.