Spot Seals In New Brunswick

New Brunswick is home to several species of seals, including grey, harp, harbour, and hooded seals. While seals can be seen in various locations along the coast of New Brunswick, one popular spot for seal watching is the Mulholland Point Lighthouse on Campobello Island. Visitors to the lighthouse have reported seeing up to 30 seals in the nearby bay, feeding and playing in the tidal currents. The Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) in Saint John has also been monitoring the harbour seal population in the area, with a particular focus on understanding their behaviour and distribution. With the milder winters, seals may start appearing in unexpected inland areas, and it is important to leave them undisturbed, especially during the pupping season.

Mulholland Point Lighthouse, Campobello Island

The Mulholland Point Lighthouse is located on Campobello Island, near the border with the United States. The lighthouse was built in 1884 (or 1888 according to another source) to guide vessels through the Lubec Narrows, the small passage between Campobello Island and the United States mainland. The lighthouse is a wooden octagonal tower standing 44 feet high, with a lantern that sits about 60 feet above the high water line. The light from the tower could be seen from up to 13 miles away.

The Mulholland Point Lighthouse is a popular spot for seal watching. Visitors have reported seeing up to 20 seals in the Bay, with the best time for seal watching being during high tide. In addition to seals, whales have also been spotted near the lighthouse. The lighthouse offers beautiful maritime views and great views of the FDR Bridge and Lubec across the narrows.

The lighthouse is located within the Roosevelt Campobello International Park and can be easily accessed by crossing the Roosevelt International Bridge from Lubec, Maine. There is a small museum on the grounds with informative displays about the sea life of the area, as well as a picnic area and steps leading down to the water.

Overall, the Mulholland Point Lighthouse is a well-maintained and easily accessible attraction that offers beautiful views, informative exhibits, and the opportunity to see seals and other marine life.

Saint John Harbour

The harbour seal population in Saint John Harbour appears to be on the rise, according to a recent study by the Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP). Researchers, including Shauna Sands, the former conservation coordinator with ACAP, conducted surveys at six different "haul-out sites" from December 2018 until March 2023. They utilised spotting scopes and drones to count the number of seals on the rocks during low tide. The results indicated that there are more seals in the area than there were 30 years ago, and these seals are now staying year-round.

Harbour seals are known to gather in colonies during the winter to mate, and females give birth to their pups on land in late spring. These pups remain on land until they develop a layer of blubber to insulate them from the cold water. Harbour seals feed on various species of fish, such as herring, and invertebrates. They are skilled swimmers, capable of reaching speeds of up to 15 knots (27 kph).

To better understand the behaviour and activities of harbour seals in Saint John Harbour, ACAP has launched a monitoring program that may involve the use of drones and satellite tagging. The program aims to engage the public by encouraging citizens to report seal sightings and submit photographs. This initiative will help fill information gaps and promote a clearer understanding of the seals' presence in the area.

Irving Nature Park

The Irving Nature Park is a beautiful park located on the edge of the city of Saint John. It covers a 600-acre site with a diverse range of flora and fauna, including six different ecosystems and 11km of rugged Bay of Fundy coastline. The park was established to protect this fragile area while allowing the public to appreciate and learn about it.

The park features eight walking trails of varying lengths, as well as a roadway that circles it, making it accessible to all visitors. One of the highlights of the park is the Seal Observation Deck, where you can watch harbour seals diving for food or basking on the rocks. The seals can be seen especially during the pupping season, from late winter to spring, when they come ashore to give birth. The park's highest point is the Lookout Tower, offering a panoramic view of the land and sea.

Taylor Island, located within the park, is not a true island but a higher piece of forested land extending from Saints Rest Marsh into the Bay of Fundy. The east side of the island overlooks Manawoganish Island, a nature preserve for seals and birds. The Heron Trail on Taylor Island leads to the Seely Point Lookout, offering stunning views of the surrounding area. The west section of the island provides vistas of Saints Rest Marsh and the shoreline of Lorneville. The Squirrel Trail features a boardwalk that extends into the marsh and a lookout tower for a bird's-eye view of the area.

The Children's Forest, now open to visitors, features a playground and two cedar hedge mazes, providing entertainment for children of all ages. The park also offers free guided tours and picnic areas, some equipped with propane barbecues, making it an ideal spot for families to enjoy nature and learn about the area's ecological significance.

Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy, nestled between the Canadian Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, offering a unique opportunity to witness an array of marine life, including seals, in their natural habitat. The area is renowned for its impressive tides, with approximately 160 billion tons of seawater flowing in and out of the bay each day, resulting in tidal ranges that can reach up to 50 feet (15 metres). This natural phenomenon is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, setting the stage for a thriving marine ecosystem.

The Bay of Fundy is home to harbour seals, which are a subspecies of earless seals known as "sea dogs" due to their expressive, dog-like faces and barking cry. These seals are a part of the Phocidae family, characterised by their ear holes and small front flippers. Harbour seals can be distinguished by their variable colouration, ranging from uniform brown or black to yellowish-white, with dark and light irregular spots. They are well adapted to life in the water and on land, hauling themselves out of the water onto isolated rocks or islands, known as haul-out sites, to rest, regulate their body temperature, and avoid predators.

During the winter months, the Bay of Fundy welcomes as many as 200 harbour seals, who gather in loosely organised colonies to mate. These seals can be observed at Irving Nature Park, located just minutes from downtown Saint John, New Brunswick. Visitors can witness the lively sea dogs splashing, diving, and basking in the sun near the park's observation deck during low tide. The park spans 600 acres (243 hectares) and offers a unique opportunity to experience the diverse ecosystems of the southern New Brunswick coastline.

In addition to the harbour seals, the Bay of Fundy is also home to a variety of other marine life, including whales, porpoises, dolphins, and an array of bird species. Whale-watching tours are a popular attraction, offering visitors the chance to witness the spectacular acrobatics of whales and the rich marine life that the bay attracts. The powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy nurture and support one of the world's greatest natural ecosystems, attracting an extensive food chain that sustains a diverse range of creatures.

Machias Seal Island

The history of Machias Seal Island is intriguing, dating back to the pre-European era when it was likely used by the Passamaquoddy Nation. During the American Revolutionary War, the island was largely overlooked by the British and Americans. However, the Treaty of Paris, which ended the conflict, included ambiguous language regarding the boundaries between the United States and British North America, leaving the sovereignty of Machias Seal Island uncertain.

Despite the ongoing dispute, the Canadian Coast Guard has maintained a presence on the island by staffing a lighthouse there. The first lighthouse was constructed in 1832, and today, the island is one of the few remaining staffed lighthouses on the Atlantic coast. The lighthouse is located within the Machias Seal Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary, which has been protected since 1944. The sanctuary is managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service, and the island is considered wholly owned by the Canadian federal government.

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