Press Releases

February 26, 2001
Unique Ice Seal Spotted

A Long Island First: 1000-Pound Hooded Species Seen off Montauk

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Southampton, NY - Southampton College researchers spotted a rare hooded seal in Montauk last week and are heading out again this weekend to try to capture the 1000-pound creature on film. It's the first known visit of an arctic ice seal to a Long Island haul-out site.

According to Southampton College Marine Science Professor Sam Sadove, the sighting further confirms the College's ongoing research that says more and more seals are moving south into Long Island waters to settle down. However, the hooded seal is much larger and potentially meaner than the types of seals Long Islanders have gotten used to - posing a potential future problem between man and beast.

"Most of the harbor seals we spot are skittish around humans," Sadove said. "But the hooded seal would be just as happy getting into a confrontation."

Ice seals have stranded on Long Island in the past, but finding one at a haul-out site means that its visit here is intentional. Along with researchers from CRESLI (Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island), several of whom are Southampton College professors, the College has been monitoring Long Island's seal population explosion of recent years. Last year on Gull Island, the College helped establish North America's southernmost seal research station to conduct a census of Harp, Harbor and Grey seals. Students regularly break out survival gear and trek to the mile-long island off Long Island's northeast tip and, without heat or electricity, live amongst hundreds of seals to study their behavior.