Harp Seals — pat morss

Posted on by patmorss

On yesterday’s Good Morning Gloucester there was a story and video from Mike Codair about rescue of a Harp Seal stranded on the ice. That is prompting me to go “off Island” and post photos from our 2002 trip to see the newborn on the Gulf of St Lawrence pack ice, near our base, Iles de la Madeleine. One hotel opened off season to accommodate those of us wanting to experience the spectacle. The mothers haul out to deliver their pups in late February, and after just two weeks they are self-sufficient and leave independently.

The fishing fleet at Cap-aux-Meules, on Iles de la Madeleine, reminded me of Gloucester
Three helicopters were chartered to take us a half hour out onto the ice
Mothers with their pups were in all directions
When a mother went under the ice to hunt, we could photograph her pup
Lying on the ice, we could be mistaken for mom (got milk?)
The world looks different when I’m on my back
Yawn!
After two trips, we left the seals to the National Geographic researchers
Giving up our helicopter seats to others, we enjoyed some dogsledding
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Published by patmorss

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