BY GUEST BLOGGER: Ben Eisinger

When out kayaking in the archipelago, or if you decide to take the ferry from Stonington out to Isle Au Haut, you may find a regular but welcome summer sight: seals, and possibly their pups, resting on rocks or watching you curiously from the water. There are two species common to the area, harbor seals and gray seals. They can be distinguished by their features; gray seals are larger and have a longer, more prominent “horse-like” snout, and their nostrils form a “W” shape, whereas harbor seals are smaller, have a more rounded head, a shorter, slightly upturned snout, and their nostrils form a “V” shape. Gray seals are also the larger of the two types, reaching seven to eight feet in length on average, vs. harbor seals, which are typically no more than six feet in length.

When leading kayak tours, Will describes seals as ‘shy but curious.’ It is not uncommon for them to pop up out of the water, head bobbing just above the waves, a short distance away from kayakers, as if inquiring why you have come into their space on such bizarre and extravagant craft as these. With male gray seals reaching up to eight hundred pounds, it’s no wonder they’d be on the lookout for easy meals. And if the occasional reject-fish should happen to be tossed overboard, all the better! Some seals, including a years-long regular known to locals as Sam, are regular lurkers around popular fishing spots, like the area by the Stonington Lobster Co-Op. This can be frustrating for some amateur fishermen, using reel-and-tackle off the pier, because the fish they are angling for can either be scared off by the presence of a seal or become a seal snack before it can be latched onto a fishing lure.

In any event, seals are a popular and common enough sight in Penobscot Bay and adjoining water-bodies, and one should be sure to keep an eye out for them when out on the water. If seen from far away, without access to binoculars or a camera with a zoom feature, their heads can be mistaken for buoys scattered throughout the Bay, but should the shape on the water you happen to be looking at suddenly submerge beneath the water’s surface, even briefly, you can be assured that you have spotted a seal. No small thing to check off your bucket list on a visit to Deer Isle, Maine!

Looking to see some seals on your trip to Deer Isle? Book a sunset tour with us; our guides have a keen eye for seals on the water. We learn their habits and know what to look for!

Ben Eisinger is part of the waterfront staff at Osprey’s Echo Sea Kayaking.