Gray Seals, also known as Horsehead Seals, are considered largely solitary creatures however they become social during breeding season. When in the water off our local Cape Ann beaches, typically we see  one or two at a time, possibly three of four, with some distance between each other. What fun to see a dozen Gray Seals bobbing alongside one another, sleeping and sunning in these last days of summer. It’s not yet mating season and the females are pregnant at this time of year. This little aggregate looks like congenial bro time although that will all change when mating season begins.

Gray Seals are found on both shores of the Atlantic, and at the Baltic Sea. The map below shows the distribution of the western Atlantic coast population.