Harbor Seals are making an appearance in NH, ME seacoast

As I begin to gear up for my summer job as a naturalist in southeast Alaska, I start running through the flora and fauna that I will need to know about out there. 

The temperate rainforests of southeast Alaska are very different from the rocky coastline of New England, but there are still quite a few plants and animals that call both places home, making my job a lot easier. One of my favorite bicoastal neighbors is the harbor seal. These are the legendary selkies — mythological creatures that can shape-shift between seal and human form. 

This myth speaks to the connection between harbor seals and humans. The life cycle of these seals tends to bring them in contact with humans fairly regularly.  Read More

Susan Pike, a researcher and an environmental sciences and biology teacher at Dover High School, welcomes your ideas for future column topics. Send your photos and observations to spike3116@gmail.com. Read more of her Nature News columns online at Seacoastonline.com and pikes-hikes.com, and follow her on Instagram @pikeshikes.