Grey seals are considered to be “true seals”, which means they have short flippers and no external ear flaps. Grey seals are sometimes called “horseheads” which refers to their large horse-like heads, seen especially prominent on males with the hooked nose. They have coloring ranging from grey to brown fur, with a spotted pattern.

Male grey seals will grow up to 10 feet and weigh up to 800 pounds, whereas the females are smaller at 8 feet and 550 pounds. 

Grey seals can be found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea, ranging from the northeastern United States to Great Britain and Russia.

Grey seals prefer habitat on rocky ocean coasts, icebergs, and even isolated islands.

Grey seals are opportunistic feeders, which means they will eat a variety of prey ranging from fish, squid, crustaceans, and even seabirds, whenever the opportunity presents itself. They tend to hunt in groups to help them capture prey.

When hunting and diving underwater, the grey seal relies on its highly sensitive ears to locate prey.

Grey seals mate in large groups, which will usually involve one male mating with a number of female seals. There is high competition for female mates so despite males being sexually mature at 3 years old, they often won’t mate until 8 years of age.

Females carry one pup for 11 month and then give birth in late fall to early winter. The young seal pups will nurse on milk from the mother for three weeks, where they will rapidly gain 3 pounds a day and a thick blubber layer. The young seals will disperse from their mothers and go to the sea in search for food after three weeks. These seals primarily live alone but gather in large groups for breeding and molting.

The grey seal’s scientific name relates to its distinguishing facial features of a horse-looking hooked nose and is literally translated to “hook-nosed sea pig”.

While grey seals are in open waters, they will rest by having their bodies upright with their heads above the water, which often makes them resemble a buoy.