WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Maine seal watch

While in Maine, Naturalist Bridget Butler and I couldn't resist getting back on the boat to go out on a seal watch. What says "Maine", as much as blueberries and lobster, except maybe the famous Sea Dogs, or harbour seals that live along the coast.

It's a short trip from New Harbor, out to the tiny island where the seals like to haul out of the water, and relax during the low tide.

There were over a hundred seals all basking in the sunshine, on the lee side of the island. In spite of the two layers of fur, and the two inches of fat, ...they do enjoy grabbing some warmth from the sun.

"They've got that banana pose going on. That's so that they can keep their extremities nice and warm, and only a little bit of their body is still touching the water. They want to come up and warm up a little bit."

While they might look a bit lazy, ...they work hard, when they are in the water.

"Well, they're going to rest during the low tide, kind of get some of their energy back. When these guys dive, they can stay underwater for about 15 minutes. Their heart rate slows down, and they actually start to deplete their blood of oxygen. So they need that time to come back up, and get their blood re-oxygenated again. So resting is just as important as feeding."

And the difference between a "true seal" and a walrus or sea lion? A walrus or sea lion has a little external ear, and they can use their rear flippers to move on land. Now in spite of the fact that these harbor seals aren't able to use their rear flippers on land, ...they do spend more time on land, than in the water.

"These guys haven't evolved to the point where they are like whales to have their babies right in the water. These guys have to go on land to whelp their pups."

Harbor seals are migratory, so as we start looking for our fall foliage, these Maine seals, will generally head south, Some wind up in Cape Cod, others the Carolinas, and some even occasionally wander as far south as Florida. But many of these seals will arrive on Long Island in November.