Unraveling the History of Harbor Seals in North Carolina (2025-2026)

Harbor seals were largely eliminated from the east coast of the U.S. during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries but have rebounded following protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. In recent years, seals have been reported seasonally near Oregon Inlet in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, raising questions about whether these animals are newly expanding their range or recolonizing historical habitat.

This project examined the historical ecology of seals in North Carolina to better understand their long-term presence along the state’s coast. Team members compiled and analyzed historical and contemporary records of seal sightings across multiple data sources, including newspaper archives, museum collections, archaeological reports, citizen science databases and scientific literature.

Students organized into subteams to systematically collect and analyze evidence from different types of historical records. The team documented more than 100 newspaper accounts of seals dating from the 1880s to the present, along with scientific publications and archaeological evidence indicating that seals were present in North Carolina even before European colonization. These findings suggest that harbor seals are not new to the region but have historically occurred along the North Carolina coast, with apparent increases in recent decades likely reflecting improved monitoring networks and the rise of online citizen science platforms.

Throughout the year, the team collaborated with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, including a visit to the museum’s mammal collections and participation in Marine Mammal Research Day. Students also presented their findings at the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium. By documenting the long-term history of seals in the region, the project provides historical context that can inform public understanding, conservation outreach and future research on marine mammal populations in the southeastern United States.

Timing

Fall 2025 – Spring 2026

Team Outputs

Were Seals Here the Whole Time? (Team profile)

Unraveling the History of Harbor Seals in North Carolina (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 15, 2026)

Historical dataset of seal records in North Carolina from newspapers, museum collections and scientific literature

Research presentation on historical seal records in North Carolina (Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium; Wilmington, N.C.; 2026)

Archival dataset of historical newspaper reports of seals in North Carolina

Manuscript in progress