Harbor Seals

Short front flippers and they inability to “walk” on land separates harbor seals from their close relatives — walruses and sea lions. Harbor seals swim by moving their hind flippers from side-to-side like a fish. On land, their hind flippers remain extended behind their bodies and they inch forward like a caterpillar.

Seal pups
Unlike most other pinnipeds, harbor seal pups can swim at birth. They only nurse from their mother for about four to six weeks. Then they must learn to forage for food on their own.In California, harbor seal pups are born between February and April and weigh about 20 to 24 pounds at birth. If born prematurely, harbor seals retain a whitish lanugo coat (which is usually lost before birth). A pup can swim at birth and will sometimes ride on its mother's back when tired. Pups make a bleating noise that sounds like "maaaa." After about four weeks, the pups are weaned. Adult females usually mate and give birth every year. They may live 25 to 30 years

Behavior
Pacific harbor seals spend about half their time on land and half in water. They can dive to 1,500 feet (457 m) for up to 40 minutes, although their average dive lasts three to seven minutes and is typically shallow, and they sometimes sleep in the water. They are opportunistic feeders, eating sole, flounder, sculpin, hake, cod, herring, octopus, and squid. While harbor seals swim safely in the surf, they will often curiously watch humans walking on beaches. However, they are wary of people while on land and will rush into the water if approached too closely or disturbed. In fact, if disturbed too often, they have been known to abandon favorite haul-out sites or their pups.