Harbor seal records trace Washington’s inland marine waters, especially Puget Sound and the tidal reaches around Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. A record associated with the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie area should be understood through its nearby river and Sound connections, not as evidence of seals occupying upland forest.
Observers document harbor seals year-round, with submissions highest in July and August, when shoreline use and human viewing effort both increase. The points show where seals were recorded and do not rank Washington haul-outs by abundance.
Full species profile
