Ringed Seal

Identification

The ringed seal is the smallest seal species in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, typically averaging 1.5 metres (5 ft) in length and weighing 50–70 kg (110–150 lb). Its most distinctive feature is a dark coat patterned with silver rings on the back and sides, contrasting with a silver belly—the source of its common name. The head is small with a short, cat-like snout, and the body is characteristically plump. Their remarkably thick front flipper claws, exceeding 2.5 cm (1 in), are specially adapted for maintaining breathing holes through ice sheets as thick as 1.8 metres (6 ft).

Range & Habitat

The ringed seal is the most abundant and wide-ranging ice seal in the Northern Hemisphere, with a circumpolar distribution spanning from approximately 35°N to the North Pole. These seals occur throughout the Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, Okhotsk Sea, and extend as far south as the northern coast of Japan in the Pacific and Newfoundland in the North Atlantic. Two freshwater subspecies inhabit northern European lakes. Ringed seals have a strong affinity for ice-covered waters and prefer to rest on large ice floes, often positioning themselves in the interior ice pack where sea ice coverage exceeds 90%. They remain in contact with ice for most of the year, migrating northward with the ice edge in late spring and summer.

Behaviour & Diet

Ringed seals are solitary animals with a notably long lifespan averaging around 40 years. Their diet consists predominantly of Arctic cod and planktonic crustaceans. Females reach sexual maturity at 4 years old, while males mature later at 7 years. During spring, females construct specialized lairs within thick ice where they give birth to a single pup in March or April, following a 9-month gestation period. Pups are weaned after two months and rapidly build up thick blubber reserves. Ringed seals face predation from polar bears, their primary predator, as well as killer whales, and have traditionally been hunted by Arctic indigenous peoples.

Best Time & Places to See It

Ringed seals are best observed during late April through June, when they are distributed throughout their range from the southern ice edge northward. The nearshore fast and pack ice of the Chukchi Sea, along with the Beaufort and Bering Seas, offer reliable viewing opportunities. In the Alaskan Beaufort Sea during early summer, seal density is higher to the east of Flaxman Island. Observers should search ice-covered waters where these seals remain closely associated with their ice habitat year-round.

Photography Tips

Photograph ringed seals on stable ice floes during the optimal late spring season when they are most widely distributed across their range. Position yourself to capture their distinctive silver-ring patterning against their dark coat, which is most visible when seals are hauled out on ice. The contrast between their dark backs and silver bellies provides excellent compositional opportunities. Early morning or late evening light will enhance the visibility of their silvery markings. Patience and a respectful distance are essential, as their solitary nature means they spend considerable time resting on ice between feeding sessions.