Although grey seals have been reported to give birth in every month of the year, there is a regular time of year they tend to pup and that is between August and December. Female seals (cows) which are already pregnant will give birth to white, furry seal pups. After mating in Autumn the previous year, the female is able to delay the progress of the pregnancy. It is thought this is to ensure the health and survival of the mother seal through moulting, but also the ensure the timing of her next pup’s birth.

Several pups can be born at the same site – one per mother. The mothers will return to the sea but will keep an eye on their pup during this time. This gives the impression that they have been abandoned, but they are perfectly safe. This is a normal process and allows the mother to feed and mate again.

When pups are born, they weigh about 13kg and an immediate female to pup bond is formed, with both using sniffs and calls. Pups are not strong at swimming after birth and must build up strength before entering the sea, so rely on the mother for milk. The pup will be nursed for 16-21 days and will suckle from the mother 3-6 times a day for up to 10 minutes each time. The milk is over 50% fat which allows the pup to grow fast, building up a layer of blubber. Blubber provides insulation for the seal which is vital for cold water swimming. This fast growth ensures a higher survival probability for grey seals as they can start being independent in a relatively short time. Despite all this care, survival to the age of one is not high in grey seal populations.

Pups will spend around 3-5 weeks at the haul out site which becomes the pup’s nursery - called a rookery. This can be a tricky time for the pup. Since the mother becomes receptive to mate when her pup is weaned she will be attracting the attention of males. Amorous males can cause a trampling problem to pups, as these huge animals can fight or follow females which are becoming receptive to mating. The female can find herself fending off males often as she’s still coming onshore to suckle her youngster.  

It can be unsettling seeing a seal pup on its own, but this is quite normal. The advice is to keep clear and if you can, watch to see if the mother returns to feed it. This may take some time and won’t happen if people are close. If you are concerned about the welfare of a seal, you can call the following numbers for advice. British Divers Marine Life Rescue (01825 765546) 24 hours or RSPCA (0300 1234 999) 24 hours. It is important to never approach a seal or pup, as disturbance can lead to the mother abandoning her pup. Additionally, when viewing seals always make sure you are being respectful and keeping noise levels to a minimum. A distance should always be maintained, and dogs should be always kept on leads.

- BLOG created by Molly Jones