Hobbies And Interests
Breeding
The breeding season for the harp seal begins as soon as the female seal weans her pups from her milk. If the harp seal were to immediately become pregnant at this time, the pups would be born when there was inadequate pack ice available, an environmental condition necessary for raising pups. For this reason, a process known as delayed impregnation takes place. The embryo within the female does not attach itself to the uterine wall for a period of at least three months, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Delayed impregnation allows the female to give birth to pups in the limited period of pack ice availability from late February to mid-March.
Young
Before giving birth to their young, the female harp seal travels to the southern extremities of their geographical range. Pups requires the warmer environment of the southern regions because young harp seals are born without a protective layer of blubber for warmth. The white coat of young harp seals allows sunlight to penetrate the fur and heat to be trapped close to the skin. During the first few weeks of life, the pups feed on their mother's milk to gain weight quickly; within the first 12 days a young harp seal can gain 5 pounds, the NOAA reports. When the pup reaches approximately 80 pounds and has developed a protective layer of blubber, the mother leaves the pup to fend for itself.
Feeding
The feeding habits of the harp seal have been adapted to include smaller fish, such as the Arctic and polar cod and invertebrates such as krill. The harp seal is capable of eating a large variety of large and small fish and invertebrates but mainly eats smaller fish. The eating mechanisms of the harp seal do not allow the mammal to chew its food; eight pairs of teeth are positioned at the front of the mouth to crush the shells of invertebrates. As the harp seal does not chew its food, it eats smaller fish that are easier to swallow.
Migration
Behavioral patterns of the harp seal include the following of migratory routes for each specific harp seal population and breeding group. There are three specific populations, with the largest known as the Western North Atlantic stock. Within this population, the harp seals are divided into three breeding groups that migrate to their own specific breeding and feeding grounds throughout the year.