Gray Seals at Chatham - Cape Cod
by Carol Senske
Title
Gray Seals at Chatham - Cape Cod
Artist
Carol Senske
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
The Gray Seals (Halichoerus grypus) are protected and their population has exploded. As a result they've become a tourist attraction, especially in the Chatham and Harwich areas. This creates an income possibility for some and aggravation for others. Fishermen aren't happy with the seals because they eat a lot of fish.
These are large seals. The males can be over 800 pounds and the females over 500 pounds when grown. Males live to about 30 years and females to about 40 years of age. The seals we saw on the seal cruise ranged from youngsters to gargantuan males. They are curious and spent time looking at us, but I wouldn't feel comfortable falling in the ocean among them.
They are called horse-heads by the locals, and I think they look a lot like the Edward Gorey creatures in the Doubtful Guest.
http://www.google.com/search?q=edward+gorey+doubtful+guest&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ezgTUM2sGoft0gGg14H4CQ&ved=0CFMQsAQ&biw=1207&bih=668
Great White Sharks have also become more numerous since they feed on the seals.
Learn more about Gray Seals at:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/OceanLiving/Facts/graysealfacts.cfm
Uploaded
July 27th, 2012
Statistics
Viewed 536 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/18/2024 at 2:26 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Similar Images
Comments (11)
Bette Devine
All those bobbing heads! Great way to present them.
Carol Senske replied:
The comeback of these seals made it possible for the white sharks to become more numerous as well. Nature at work. :>)
Bunny Clarke
A sweet collage of images.
Carol Senske replied:
This was a fun day - we saw no sharks, fortunately, and the seals were playful and curious. Thanks for coming by!
Larry Kniskern
Congratulations, Carol – your "In the Ocean Water" scene has been featured by the Go Take a Hike Photography Group! Feel free to add it to the 2021 Featured Images thread in the group discussion board for archive.
Kathryn Jones
Ah, bless them! Lovely animals and a great collage!
Carol Senske replied:
They really are amazing to watch as they swim - very acrobatic and agile! Thanks, Kathryn.
Bruce Carpenter
awesome collage! beautiful creatures even if they brought the white sharks! f/v
Carol Senske replied:
Their agility is mind-boggling for such big creatures; loads of fun to watch. This was high tide when the seals are mostly in the water. Low tide is their favored time to haul out. Thank you for taking a moment to stop by, and thanks for the wonderful comment, vote, and fave:>). Wish I had seen a shark!
Sharon Burger
forgot to vote and fav...V/F
Carol Senske replied:
I'll post a couple individual pics. Thank you for the kind words and V/F. Still catching up from time away:>)
Sharon Burger
I was hoping you got seal pictures, what a marvelous collage. 800 pounds, wow I'd be scared to get my feet wet in that ocean,. nice work my friend.
Doris Potter
Nice work Carol! I saw seals last weekend during a whlale-watching excursion. The seals seemed to watch the whales just like all the rest of us!
Carol Senske replied:
Aren't the marine mammals (all of them) just the best! The whales are magnificent; the porpoise are such fun; the seals are agile and curious:>)
Recently Viewed
