Life cycle

Pups, milk and seasons

Grey seals and harbour seals raise pups in different seasons and in different ways.

Grey seal autumn

Grey seals around the UK mostly pup between September and December (timing varies by coast: earlier in the west, later in the east). Natural History Museum: Seals in the UK Grey seal pups are born with fluffy white coats and stay ashore for about two to three weeks before entering the water. Natural History Museum: Seals in the UK

By about a month old it is normal for a grey seal pup to be left alone on the beach while the mother feeds at sea — it is not usually abandoned. Natural History Museum: Seals in the UK Seal pups drink rich milk — about 2.5 litres a day — and put on insulating blubber quickly. Natural History Museum: Seals in the UK

Grey seal females can live up to about 30 years; males seldom survive beyond about 25. Mammal Society: Grey seal

Harbour seal summer

Harbour seals usually pup in June and July. Natural History Museum: Seals in the UK Harbour seal pups are born ready to swim and can enter the water within a few hours of birth. Natural History Museum: Seals in the UK

Harbour seal mothers suckle for about three to four weeks; pups roughly double their birth weight in that time. Mammal Society: Harbour seal Harbour seal females can reach about 30 years; males are unlikely to live beyond about 20. Mammal Society: Harbour seal

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