Episode 43 - Harbor Seals

Joining us on the latest episode of After the Breach Podcast we welcome back Dr. Cindy Elliser from PacMam Research to talk to us about a very important, non-cetacean that inhabits the Salish Sea—the harbor seal!

These pinnipeds are an important species, both as prey and as predators. We talk about PacMam’s latest paper about site fidelity, and also learn some interesting facts about these charismatic creatures. We also get into seal politics and discuss why seals get a bad rap, why this is not deserved, and how culling pinnipeds will not accomplish what some think it might (and could be devastating to Bigg’s killer whales).

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Links from this episode:

• Pacific Mammal Research: www.pacmam.org
• Pacific Mammal Research on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pacificmammalresearch/#
• Pacific Mammal Research on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PacificMammalResearch
• Pacific Mammal Research on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pacificmammalresearch
• Resident Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) in the Salish Sea: Photo-Identification Shows Long-Term Site Fidelity, Natal Philopatry, and Provides Insights into Longevity and Behavior: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/6/1/9
• Increased presence of mammal-eating killer whales in the Salish Sea with implications for predator-prey dynamics: https://peerj.com/articles/6062/