Nova Scotia’s rugged coastline offers some of the best marine wildlife watching in Canada. From playful seals basking on rocky shores to massive whales breaching offshore, the cold Atlantic waters here are teeming with life. Whether you’re exploring tide pools or taking a boat tour, you’ll likely spot these incredible creatures in their natural habitat.
Wildlife sightings vary by season and location. Always observe marine animals from a safe distance and follow local guidelines to protect both yourself and the animals.
1. Harbor Seal
Spotting a harbor seal lounging on a sunbaked rock is one of the most delightful coastal experiences. These curious mammals have rounded heads and big, soulful eyes that seem to watch your every move.
They prefer shallow bays and harbors where they can haul out to rest between hunting trips. Their diet consists mainly of fish, squid, and crustaceans found in the chilly Atlantic waters surrounding Nova Scotia’s shores.
2. Grey Seal
With their horse-like snouts and hefty bodies, grey seals are hard to miss along Nova Scotia beaches. Males can weigh up to 400 kilograms, making them true ocean giants among local pinnipeds.
Sable Island, off Nova Scotia’s coast, hosts the world’s largest grey seal breeding colony. During pupping season in winter, thousands gather on remote beaches to give birth and nurse their fluffy white pups.
3. Humpback Whale
Few sights compare to a humpback whale launching its massive body completely out of the water. These acrobatic giants return to Nova Scotia waters each summer to feast on capelin, krill, and small fish in productive feeding areas.
Their haunting songs can travel for kilometers underwater, and each individual has unique markings on its tail fluke, allowing researchers to identify and track them year after year.
4. Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin
Playful pods of Atlantic white-sided dolphins bring joy to anyone lucky enough to witness their acrobatic displays. Their striking colour pattern features bold white and yellowish patches along their flanks, making them easy to identify.
These social creatures often travel in groups of 50 or more, leaping through waves and surfing boat wakes with infectious enthusiasm throughout Nova Scotia’s offshore waters.
5. Lion’s Mane Jellyfish
The lion’s mane jellyfish drifts through Nova Scotia waters like an alien creature from another world. Its bell can grow over two metres wide, with tentacles trailing behind for more than 30 metres in some cases.
Despite their beauty, these jellies pack a painful sting, so admire them from a distance. Their reddish-orange colour resembles a lion’s mane, giving this impressive species its fitting name.
6. Atlantic Puffin
With their colourful beaks and tuxedo-like plumage, Atlantic puffins look like tiny comedians of the bird world. These charming seabirds nest in burrows on offshore islands, returning each spring to raise their single chick called a puffling.
Their bright orange feet act like rudders when swimming underwater, helping them chase small fish through the cold Atlantic waters surrounding Nova Scotia’s coastline.
