Seals have long fascinated humans with their curious blend of familiarity and mystery. With their soulful eyes, playful nature, and surprising intelligence, they seem almost human at times, yet their lives remain largely hidden beneath the waves.
Across Canada’s rugged coastlines, seals spend the year navigating changing seasons, breeding cycles, and the constant challenge of surviving in cold, unpredictable waters. Each stage of their year tells a story of endurance, adaptation, and remarkable instinct.
These marine mammals are far more than the adorable faces often seen on postcards. They play a vital role in ocean ecosystems, balancing fish populations and serving as indicators of environmental health. Seals embody the quiet resilience of life at sea.
This article is for general knowledge only and is based on information from online sources. Wildlife should always be observed responsibly and from a safe distance.
Seals Remind Us Of Ourselves
Ecologist Frank Fraser Darling noted back in 1939 that baby grey seals cry and behave much like human infants. This observation captures something profound about our connection to these animals.
Morris explores this parallel throughout her book, showing how seals evoke empathy in ways few other marine creatures can. Their expressive eyes and curious nature make them feel familiar, almost like distant cousins from the sea.
Folklore reinforces this bond, with selkie legends describing seals that transform into humans. These stories reflect our desire to see ourselves in the natural world around us.
Historical Bounty Hunting Nearly Destroyed Them
Grey seals in the United States almost vanished during the 19th century due to aggressive bounty hunting. Humans viewed them as competitors for valuable fish stocks and targeted them relentlessly.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 changed everything, offering legal protection that allowed populations to recover. Today, seal numbers have rebounded in many coastal areas, though not everyone celebrates their return.
This history reminds us how quickly we can push species to the brink. Conservation laws matter, but they also spark new debates about coexistence and resource sharing between humans and wildlife.
Fishermen See Them As Competition
Commercial fishermen often view seals as thieves stealing from already struggling fish populations. Morris documents this tension with examples that show both frustration and the clever ways seals exploit fishing operations.
Seals have learned to snatch fish from nets and lines, behaviour that costs fishermen money and patience. Some coastal communities worry about their livelihoods as seal numbers grow and fish stocks remain under pressure.
Yet Morris suggests seals serve as convenient scapegoats for broader problems like overfishing and habitat destruction. The conflict reveals how complex marine ecosystems truly are and how blame often falls on the wrong culprits.
Rescue Efforts Walk A Fine Line
Morris highlights the dedicated conservationists who save seals injured by nets, boat strikes, or predator attacks. Their work requires expertise, patience, and a deep understanding of marine mammal biology.
However, well-meaning but untrained people sometimes cause more harm than good. One kayaker removed a seal pup to a bathtub, fed it inappropriate food, and the animal died as a result of this misguided intervention.
These stories emphasize the importance of leaving wildlife rescue to professionals. Good intentions without proper knowledge can be fatal, and the line between helping and harming is thinner than most people realize.
Shark Concerns Follow Seal Populations
As seal numbers increase near shorelines, some residents worry about attracting sharks to popular beaches. Seals are a natural prey item for great white sharks and other large predators.
Morris addresses this anxiety without sensationalizing it, acknowledging the legitimate concerns while providing context. Shark encounters remain rare, but the presence of seals can shift predator behaviour and movement patterns along the coast.
This dynamic illustrates how recovering one species affects an entire ecosystem. Beaches that once seemed safe now require awareness, and communities must adapt to sharing space with both seals and the predators that follow them.
Morris’s Personal Connection Shines Through
The author’s emotional investment in seals becomes clear as she describes mourning a rescued pup’s death and interacting with captive animals. Her writing carries genuine affection without crossing into sentimentality.
Morris balances her personal experiences with scientific observation, acknowledging that seals are wild animals with their own agency. She respects their independence while celebrating the moments of connection that make wildlife observation so rewarding.
This approach makes the book relatable without being preachy. Readers feel her passion for these creatures while understanding the boundaries that must exist between humans and wildlife, even when empathy runs deep.
Environmental Issues Run Deeper Than Seals
Morris frames seals as marine scapegoats for problems humans created. Overfishing, damming rivers, and climate change all impact fish populations far more than seal predation does.
Blaming seals for declining fish stocks ignores the industrial-scale harvesting and habitat destruction that have occurred for decades. Seals eat fish, certainly, but they’re part of a balanced ecosystem that humans have thrown out of balance.
The book encourages readers to look beyond simple explanations and consider systemic environmental challenges. Addressing these larger issues requires more effort than targeting seals, but it’s the only path to genuine solutions.
Much Of Their Lives Remain Hidden
Despite decades of research, scientists still have limited understanding of seal behaviour beneath the waves. Morris provides glimpses into their underwater world, but acknowledges how much remains mysterious.
Seals can be observed hauled out on rocks or beaches, yet their hunting strategies, social interactions, and navigation methods underwater are difficult to study. Technology helps, but the ocean keeps many secrets.
This unknowable quality adds to their appeal. Morris’s book succeeds not by claiming to reveal everything, but by celebrating what we do know while respecting the gaps in our understanding of these elusive creatures.
