Grey seal

Anyone who has been lucky enough to observe grey seals in the wild will appreciate how speedy and agile these mammals are in the water. Even watching them from the coast, a bobbing seal head will disappear in the blink of an eye, reappearing across the other side of the bay as though by magic.

Despite being called the grey seal, their fur can also include shades of brown and have a blotchy, spotted pattern, which can be used to identify individual seals. Young pups have white, cotton wool fur that protects them from the cold temperatures of the sea. After three weeks or so, pups will shed their pup fur and develop a thick, waterproof coat as adults.

Grey seals haul themselves onto rocks and beaches, often in large numbers, to rest, breed, and digest their food. You can see them easily around the Isles of Scilly. Use binoculars to check sheltered bays and rocky outcrops, including Pelistry on St Mary's, Great Bay on St Martins and Great Par on Bryher. Alternatively, head out with a WiSe accredited boating provider to the Eastern Isles or Western Rocks.

You can help Scilly's grey seals by adopting one with us today. You'll receive an eco-friendly pack full of locally designed artwork, decorations and photographs, as well as information about your adoption and seals on Scilly. 

Adopt today