Combining local knowledge and new technology to study spotted seals

Spotted seals are a vital part of Alaska’s Arctic marine ecosystems and a crucial resource for many coastal Iñupiaq communities. Yet despite their cultural and ecological significance, these elusive marine mammals remain one of the least-studied seal species in the region. An Alaska Sea Grant-supported research project is changing that by combining new technology with Indigenous Knowledge to better understand the lives of spotted seals.

This project brings a fresh approach to Arctic marine mammal science, and is led by University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher Donna Hauser, UAF graduate student Maeghan Connor, and a team of collaborators from the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management and the Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub. These researchers are pursuing two key goals: (1) study how environmental conditions influence spotted seal behavior when resting on land, and (2) explore drones as a noninvasive tool for collecting ecological data.

“Spotted seals are known to be sensitive to typical research methodologies, which makes studying them challenging,” explained Hauser. “That’s why we’re testing newer, low-impact technologies like drones and time-lapse cameras to gather important data without stressing the animals.”

During the 2024 and 2025 field seasons, coordination with subsistence hunters based in Utqiaġvik provided essential knowledge about study design and specific spotted seal haulout locations, enabling the team to conduct 61 drone flights to observe spotted seal behavior. The contributions of the hunters were instrumental to the project’s success. “All this work would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of our community partners,” remarked Connor. “Their insights into spotted seal behavior, local weather conditions, and familiarity with the study area were invaluable.” 

Initial findings suggest that most seals remained undisturbed when drones were flown at higher altitudes, especially above 40 meters. Additionally, hundreds of drone images have been collected, showing seals on terrain including sandbars and exposed tundra. These images will be used in statistical models that estimate age and body condition for assessing population health.

A new LiDAR system was tested this year to improve measurement accuracy. This system uses lasers to determine the distance of the drone to the seal, giving researchers greater accuracy in their estimates of body size. In the future, the team plans to implement machine learning to automate seal counts, differentiate age classes, and potentially identify individuals based on fur patterns.

“What makes the drone imagery so fascinating is that, while we’re currently using it to study disturbance and body condition, the footage can be used to better understand so much more,” said Maeghan Connor. “Every time I review the footage, I learn something new that may have been missed without the birds-eye-view perspective. For example, it’s very clear spotted seals do not like physical contact–they always seem to space out just enough to not be touching, and if a seal bumps into its neighbor, a fight will break out. It’s such a stark contrast to walruses, which are known for piling on top of each other at haulouts.”

The team has completed image collection using time-lapse cameras and is now analyzing seal presence and haulout patterns. Preliminary results have shown that environmental variables such as wind speed and direction, temperature, and time of year affect the haulout behavior.

They reviewed environmental observations contributed by Utqiaġvik-based Iñupiat observers Billy Adams and Joe Leavitt through the Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub, a long-term community-based monitoring network that documents local weather, sea ice, and subsistence. Their local observations provided essential data on environmental conditions during the study period and helped interpret patterns in seal haulout behavior.

This research forms the foundation of graduate student Maeghan Connor’s master’s thesis, and she plans to continue building on these findings in a PhD program starting this spring. A scientific manuscript summarizing the results is currently in progress.

Additionally, the team has presented its drone research at Ice Seal Committee meetings and engaged youth in Utqiaġvik through outreach activities, including drone demonstrations and hands-on activities at the Barrow Arctic Research Center Science Fair.

“Our work aims not only to improve ecological understanding, but also to strengthen collaboration with local communities,” said Hauser. “Engaging with Iñupiaq hunters and observers helps ensure the science is relevant and done respectfully. We also end up with better results and therefore a stronger scientific understanding.”

All research and image collection were conducted under a Marine Mammal Protection Act General Authorization for Scientific Research permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Letter of Confirmation No. 23546. Ethics approval was received from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (UAF Protocol No. 1610672-2).