The seals you are most likely to see in Maine are harbor seals, with gray seals as the bigger, longer-nosed second act. Both live in the Gulf of Maine all year, and near Portland the easiest place to find them is on the rocky ledges of Casco Bay around low tide, when they haul out to rest on wet granite with their heads and tails curled up like bananas.
Finding them comes down to three things: knowing which kind of rock seals like, timing your visit to the tide, and staying far enough back that they keep resting. Get those right and seals are one of the most reliable wildlife sightings on the Maine coast, though with wild animals nothing is ever certain.
At Bird's Eye Maine we look for seals on Casco Bay most days of the season, and they are the animal families ask about first. Here is how to tell the species apart, where and when to look, and how to watch them the right way.
Which Seals Live in Maine?
Almost every seal you see here will be a harbor seal or a gray seal. Harp and hooded seals are rare winter visitors from the north. All of them are "true seals": no external ear flaps, and they move on land by humping along on their bellies. Maine has no sea lions, which live on the Pacific coast.
Harbor Seals: The Ones You'll See Most
The harbor seal is the smallest and most common seal on the coast. Adults are roughly 5 to 6 feet long, with a round, almost dog-like head, big dark eyes and a short snout. Their coats are mottled silver, tan or brown with darker spots, and when they are wet they can look nearly black.
In the water harbor seals are curious. A head pops up a few boat lengths away, takes a long look, and slips under without a ripple. On land they are shy, and they will slide off a ledge if anything comes too close.
How to Tell a Gray Seal From a Harbor Seal
Ignore the coat color, because both species range from pale gray to dark brown. Look at the head instead.
Harbor seal: rounded head, short snout, nostrils that form a V.
Gray seal: long, sloping "Roman nose" that gives it a horse-like profile, with nostrils that sit parallel like two slots.
Size: gray seals are much bigger. Big males can top 8 feet and several hundred pounds, so on a shared ledge they look like heavy logs next to compact harbor seals.
Gray seals were once scarce in the Gulf of Maine and have made a strong comeback, so it is common now to see both species on the same rocks.
Harp and Hooded Seals
Harp seals and hooded seals belong to Arctic and North Atlantic pack ice, and only the odd young wanderer turns up in Maine, usually in winter. If you ever find one resting on a beach, give it plenty of room and report it to the hotline below so trained responders know where it is.
Where Can You See Seals in Maine?
Seals use nearly the whole coast, wherever ledges, small islands and quiet coves sit close to good feeding water. Near Portland that means Casco Bay. Farther up the coast, the islands and ledges around Boothbay Harbor, Pemaquid Point, Monhegan and Mount Desert Island are all well-known seal country if your trip takes you that way.
Casco Bay's Ledges and Outer Islands
Casco Bay is made for seals. It is scattered with granite ledges, many of them covered at high tide and bare at low water, and plenty of them sit well away from beaches and foot traffic. The outer bay usually holds more seals than the busy inner harbor because there are fewer boats and less disturbance, although a single curious head near the moorings off the waterfront is a common sight too.
Seal Watching From Shore
You can see seals from land, but they are often small and far away. Bring binoculars, scan rocky points and offshore ledges around low tide, and look for shapes that are smoother and paler than the seaweed around them. Calm days help a lot, because a choppy surface hides heads in the waves.
Seal Watching From a Boat
A boat gets you to the outer ledges where seals feel safest, and lets you approach slowly from downwind and stop well short of them. You will often see other wildlife on the same outing, from ospreys and herons to harbor porpoises rolling in the channels, and our guide to wildlife and things to do around Casco Bay covers more of what lives here.
When Are Seals Easiest to Spot?
The tide matters more than anything else. After that, think about the season, the wind and the light.
Plan Around Low Tide
Casco Bay's tide rises and falls around nine feet, so a ledge that is underwater at high tide becomes a broad, weedy platform a few hours later. Seals ride the falling tide up onto the rock and stay until the water floods back over it. The couple of hours either side of low tide usually show the most seals hauled out together. At high tide they are mostly in the water, and you will see scattered heads rather than a group on the rocks.
What Each Season Brings
Late spring and early summer: harbor seal pupping season. Mothers leave pups on ledges and beaches while they feed close by.
Summer: harbor seals gather in groups on the ledges while pups put on weight.
Fall: seals still haul out on mild days, and the bay is quieter with fewer boats around.
Winter: gray seals have their pups, born in thick white coats, while harbor seals spread out.
Choosing the Time of Day
Once you know when low tide falls, pick the calmer end of the day around it. Summer mornings often bring lighter winds and flat water, which is why Captain Matt likes an early start. A low tide in the evening works beautifully too, and a private sunset cruise can catch seals on granite turned gold by the low sun.
If seals are top of your list, our private Wildlife Tour is planned around the tide so we reach the ledges at the right moment, and it is an easy add to a family day on the bay. Bring a light jacket either way, because it is always cooler on the water than in town.
How Do You Watch Seals Without Disturbing Them?
All seals in U.S. waters are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it illegal to harass, feed or handle them. NOAA's general guidance is to watch from a distance, roughly 50 yards or more, and to let the animals' behavior tell you if you are too close.
Read the Seals, Then Back Off
Resting seals give clear warning signs when people get too close:
Heads lifting and turning toward you.
Seals shuffling toward the edge of the ledge.
One or two splashing into the water, with others following.
If heads come up, ease away. A seal that flushes into the water burns energy it needs, and a pup can get separated from its mother. On our boat, Captain Matt slows to idle well before a haul-out and lets the boat drift, so binoculars and a zoom lens do the work instead of the engine.
A Pup Alone Is Usually Fine
A seal pup by itself on a beach is almost always waiting for its mother, who may be off feeding for hours at a time. People and dogs standing around it are what keep her from coming back. Keep well away, keep dogs leashed, and don't touch, cover, feed or pour water on the pup or try to push it back into the sea. Seals have sharp teeth and can carry diseases that spread to people and pets.
Who to Call About a Seal in Trouble
If a seal looks injured, sick, entangled or is surrounded by people who won't leave it alone, call the Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline at 1-800-532-9551. Note the location and time, and take a photo from a distance if you can. The hotline passes your report to the right responder for that stretch of coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see seals from shore near Portland?
Sometimes. With binoculars at low tide you can pick out seals on ledges off rocky points, and the odd head bobs up near the harbor on calm days. The larger groups use ledges farther out in the bay, which are much easier to see from the water.
Are there sea lions in Maine?
No. Maine's seals are all true seals, mainly harbor and gray seals. If someone tells you they saw a sea lion on the Maine coast, it was almost certainly a big gray seal.
Are seals in Maine all year?
Yes. Harbor and gray seals stay in the Gulf of Maine through every season. What changes is their behavior: summer groups on the ledges, winter pupping for gray seals, and more spread-out harbor seals in the cold months.
How close can you get to seals in Maine?
Not very close, and that is the point. Federal law protects them from harassment, and a good rule is to stay far enough back that no seal lifts its head or moves toward the water. If that happens, you are too close.
What else might you see while looking for seals in Casco Bay?
Harbor porpoises, ospreys, herons, cormorants and the occasional bald eagle often turn up on the same outing. Whales are rare inside the bay, since they mostly feed well offshore in the Gulf of Maine.
If you'd like to look for seals on the ledges of Casco Bay, come out with us on our Wildlife Tour. Every trip is private, so it's your own boat and your own captain for up to 6 guests, leaving from Fore Points Marina and timed around the tide. See the details on our tours page, then call 207.632.9369 or email info@birdseyemaine.com and Captain Matt will plan the day with you.
