seals – Alaska Sea Grant

Combining local knowledge and new technology to study spotted seals

By Kyle Kolda | October 20, 2025

Distant nadir view of 11 spotted seals resting on a sand spit surrounded by crashing waves.

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…

Lack of sea ice sends seal pups and walrus calves to beach

By Paula Dobbyn | June 27, 2019

It’s been a busy couple of months for members of the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network, including Alaska Sea Grant’s Gay Sheffield, as they respond to multiple reports of dead…

Alaskans report uptick in potential shark-related injuries

By Paula Dobbyn | June 11, 2018

Something new is happening in the cold waters of northern and western Alaska. Unusual injuries such as bite marks and flipper amputations are showing up on seals in the Bering…