Newborn Harbor Seal Pup with Mother and Seagull, Phoca vitulina richardsi

Newborn harbor seal pup is protected by its mother from a seagull. The seagull most likely wants to feed on the placenta, which is still attached to the mother, but it may also peck at and injure the pup. The seal mother does a good job of keeping birds off its newborn pup. Within an hour of being born, this pup had learned to nurse and had entered the ocean for its first swim. La Jolla, California, USA, Phoca vitulina richardsi, natural history stock photograph, photo id 39119
Newborn harbor seal pup is protected by its mother from a seagull. The seagull most likely wants to feed on the placenta, which is still attached to the mother, but it may also peck at and injure the pup. The seal mother does a good job of keeping birds off its newborn pup. Within an hour of being born, this pup had learned to nurse and had entered the ocean for its first swim. La Jolla, California, USA

Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39119
Format: Digital 10:16
Keywords: animal, animalia, baby, beach, birth, california, caniformia, carnivora, carnivore, casa cove, childrens pool, chordata, coast, creature, harbor seal, la jolla, la jolla seals, mammal, mammalia, marine mammal, nature, newborn, ocean, pacific harbor seal, phoca, phoca vitulina richardsi, phocid, phocidae, pinniped, pinnipedia, pup, richardii, richardsi, san diego, seal, usa, vertebrata, vertebrate, vitulina, wildlife, young
Purchase a print of this image
Categories:
Copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.
This professional quality stock photo can be licensed in high resolution form by contacting the photographer: Phillip Colla, photos@oceanlight.com, (760) 707-7153, more info and photographer bio.