amnhnyc:

Smile—you’re halfway through the week! Commonly found swimming in ice-free northern waters, the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) is one of the smaller seals. This species typically lives in saltwater bays and estuaries but also inhabits freshwater lakes and rivers. A harbor seal can be solitary, but sometimes joins groups along the shoreline. Unlike many other seals and sea lions, harbor seals can swim at birth. Yet pups stay dependent on their mothers for milk for up to six weeks—among the longest weaning period for all seals. Have you ever seen the bobbing heads of these seals in the water?
Photo: Andreas Trepte