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A small ringed seal

The sea ice is coming to life. This year`s seal pups will be born on the cold surface of the frozen water. It is not known the first ringed seal pups will be born because these animals choose a remote snow pile on the ice banks of the open sea for the birth of their pup. The female digs a cave or even two into the snow pile, the door to the children`s room opens into the water to avoid anybody discovering the home and bother the „baby“.

 

For successful calving they need both ice and snow – this year is short on both of them.

Although it was possible to cross the Väinameri (Straits Sea) even with a car as a result of the harsh colds and the bay of Pärnu was covered with ice, it is the lack of snow which makes ringed seal pups an easy prey for foxes and eagles who stalk their prey on land or water. Let`s hope that the ice cover remains until the ringed seal pups need it which would be until April.

 

Grey seals have more liberty to choose the birthplace for their pups because they are large creatures and will readily fight off their opponents. Preferred spots still include the early spring ice of the open sea. First seal pups were seen on the ice already in the middle of January, however, almost two thirds of all newborns are born within the last week of February and first week of March – the ice conditions are the most suitable for the seals then. If they cannot find a good spot on the ice, they will look for a secluded beach or an islet- that`ll do when the times are tough!