Northern fur seals have the second thickest fur in the animal kingdom.

This keeps them warm as they hunt for food in the cold waters of the

Northern Pacific. Visit the fur seals at the Aquarium to see them in action.

Size  Males can weigh up to 600 pounds and grow up to 7 feet long. Females
weigh up to 120 pounds and are generally 4.5 feet long.

Diet  Squids and small schooling fish such as walleye, pollock and herring

Lifespan  15 - 25 years

Range  Northern fur seals are widely distributed in the North Pacific Ocean.

Their primary breeding location is the Pibilof Islands off the coast of Alaska.

Habitat  Fur seals are migratory, spending about half of each year out at sea.
While at sea, they sleep by floating at the surface, often with their flippers up and
out in what is called the "jughandle" position.

Predators  Adult fur seals are hunted by orcas and large sharks.

Relatives  Northern fur seals and sea lions are in the same family known as "eared
seals." They are known for their ability to rotate their flippers under them and "walk"
on land.

Family life  Mating occurs between June and July on remote island beaches called "rookeries." Pups are born one year later on the same beach. They are able to live independently after four months.

Conservation status  Vulnerable  Fur seals were commercially hunted for their pelts until the practice was banned in 1966. The population has continued to decline since then. The reasons for the decline in fur seal populations are unclear, but possible factors include overfishing, entanglement in fishing gear, climate change and pollution.

Explore other profiles   Check out harbor seals, sand tiger sharks and green sea turtles.

Seals and climate change   According to scientists, the retreat of sea ice has reduced the platform that seals traditionally use to rest between searches for fish and mussels. Read more ...