Source and Additional Information

Animal Diversity Web
 
Heather Lutz
Some rights reserved

Bearded seals give birth on pack ice in mid-March to late April. Shortly after birth, pups are able to swim and can dive 75 meters deep to escape polar bears. Pups put on weight quickly, especially during the 12 to 18 days of nursing. Pups molt into the adult coat around the time of weaning, which occurs when it reaches approximately 85kg. "After the breeding season, many seals migrate northward with the retreating ice, returning southward again as the ice advances in autumn and winter" (Jefferson, 1993).

These solitary creatures are seen resting on floating ice with their head facing downward into the water. This is so they can quickly escape into the sea if pursued by a predator. Bearded seals ram their head into thin ice in order to create breathing holes. They have been known to dive to a depth of 200 meters, however, they mainly feed in shallow waters. (Burns, 1994; Haley, 1978; Jefferson, Leatherwood, and Webber, 1993; Macdonald, 1985; Nowak, 1999)

Communication and Perception

Source and Additional Information

Animal Diversity Web
 
Heather Lutz
Some rights reserved

Males of this species sing an audible, underwater song during breeding season. Their song consists of "a long, oscillating warble that may last for more than one minute, followed by a short, low-frequency moan. This sound is known to be made only by mature males during the spring and may be a proclamation of territory or breeding condition" (Nowak, 1999). (Nowak, 1999)