Once again, seals are back at Sandy Hook.
These cold-water mammals have already been spotted in Raritan Bay, and in the Atlantic Ocean off New York and New Jersey, reported the American Littoral Society, an environmental nonprofit based in Sandy Hook.
As in previous years, the American Littoral Society is organizing guided seal hikes at Sandy Hook for $20 or $10 for those with a membership. Registration is required: littoralsociety.org.
Seal and winter waterfowl walks dates
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11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11
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10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 25
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12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28
Meeting point: 18 Hartshorne drive in Highlands, New Jersey
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NJ seal-watching boat tours
You can also embark on seal and bird ecology cruises aboard Seastreak ferries from Highlands. These trips will take you to Sandy Hook and nearby areas where you can spot seals, birds, and other wildlife. The cruises are offered on select Saturdays and Sundays between January and March.
Experts from the American Littoral Society will be on each cruise to provide species identification and additional information.
Tickets cost $55 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under.
Meeting point: 326 Shore Drive, Highlands
|
Date |
Departure Time |
Return Time |
|
Sunday, Jan. 12 |
11 a.m. |
Approx. 1:30 p.m. |
|
Saturday, Jan. 18 |
2:30 p.m. |
Approx. 5:00 p.m. |
|
Sunday, Jan. 26 |
10 a.m. |
Approx. 12:30 p.m. |
|
Saturday, Feb. 1 |
2 p.m. |
Approx. 4:30 p.m. |
|
Sunday, Feb. 9 |
10 a.m. |
Approx. 12:30 p.m. |
|
Saturday, Feb. 15 |
2 p.m. |
Approx. 4:30 p.m. |
|
Saturday, March 1 |
1 p.m. |
Approx. 3:30 p.m. |
|
Saturday, March 15 |
1:30 p.m. |
Approx. 4:00 p.m. |
|
Sunday, March 30 |
1:30 p.m. |
Approx. 4:00 p.m. |
Are there seals in New Jersey?
With winter in full swing, harbor seals can be spotted along New Jersey’s beaches, from Cape May to Sandy Hook, as well as in the back bays. While these seals are found as far south as the Carolinas, they are most abundant off New Jersey due to the cold waters rich in fish, National Park Service ranger Pete McCarthy told Patch in a 2019 interview.
Over the past decade, the seal population at Sandy Hook has dramatically risen.
Although harbor seals are the most common, grey seals and harp seals occasionally make appearances as well. Seals are often seen lounging in groups on sandbars, rocks, islands, or beaches along the Jersey Shore.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Sandy Hook seals: A winter wildlife spectacle in New Jersey