{"id":11556,"date":"2018-08-27T06:30:43","date_gmt":"2018-08-27T10:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=11556"},"modified":"2018-08-27T10:46:01","modified_gmt":"2018-08-27T14:46:01","slug":"take-5-seal-of-approval","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-seal-of-approval\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Seal of Approval"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brace yourself. Serious cuteness incoming.<\/p>\n

Seals are a “fan favorite” for wildlife lovers and coastal tourists due in large part to their often playful, expressive nature and adorable fuzziness. Year-round, visitors to the coastal parts of Massachusetts can spot our “resident” Harbor and Gray seals fairly easily. If you’re really lucky you may spy a rarer species such as Harp or Hooded seals although they tend to stay farther north near the pack ice they depend on for pupping. Interestingly, you will not find any sea lions here. Sea lions belong to a different taxonomic family than “true” seals and are not found on the east coast of the United States.<\/p>\n

If you’re eager to spot one,\u00a0many of our coastal wildlife sanctuaries host programs where you can look for and observe seals<\/a>\u00a0but here are five cute photos of seals for you to enjoy in the meantime, submitted to our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest. The 2018 photo contest is only open until September 30, so submit your great wildlife and nature photography today!<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9

\u00a9 Paulina Zuckerman<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\u00a9

\u00a9 Kim Barillot<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\u00a9

\u00a9 Terri Nickerson<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\u00a9

\u00a9 James Duffy<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\u00a9

\u00a9 Samantha Ferguson<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Brace yourself. Serious cuteness incoming. Seals are a “fan favorite” for wildlife lovers and coastal tourists due in large part to their often playful, expressive nature and adorable fuzziness. Year-round, visitors to the coastal parts of Massachusetts can spot our “resident” Harbor and Gray seals fairly easily. If you’re really lucky you may spy a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":11561,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[272,273,274,83,84,271],"class_list":["post-11556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-coast","tag-mammals","tag-marine-life","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography","tag-seals"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/08\/3047James_Duffy13180.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-30o","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4753,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-splendid-swarms\/","url_meta":{"origin":11556,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Splendid Swarms","author":"Rosemary","date":"February 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"When animals gather in large groups, they form fascinating patterns. This fact hasn't escaped our Photo Contest participants. Here are five of our favorite images of wildlife en masse.","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/NancyBloom-2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/NancyBloom-2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/01\/NancyBloom-2013.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14478,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-down-by-the-sea\/","url_meta":{"origin":11556,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Down By the Sea","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The coastal towns of Massachusetts are an artist's dream: historic fishing villages, picturesque lighthouses, sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, and harbors brimming with boats of all shapes and sizes make for postcard-perfect scenes, accompanied by the vibrant culture and deep history of the region. Unfortunately, climate change is threatening our coastal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Onset, MA \u00a9 Dean Martin","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5939Dean_Martin30623.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5939Dean_Martin30623.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5939Dean_Martin30623.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5939Dean_Martin30623.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17116,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/early-career-programs-trip-to-long-pasture\/","url_meta":{"origin":11556,"position":2},"title":"Early Career Programs’ Trip to Long Pasture","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"August 23, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Anna Cass On a recent July day, Mass Audubon\u2019s five Environmental Fellows and four of the Coastal Resilience Program (CRP) Interns met at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable to learn more about coastal habitats.\u00a0 Environmental Fellows, from left to right: Isabela Chachapoyas Ortiz, Isabella Guerero, Anna Cass, Jovan\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Environmental Fellows Program"","block_context":{"text":"Environmental Fellows Program","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/environmental-fellows-program\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/Image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/Image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/Image.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/Image.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16942,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/protecting-salt-marshes-at-allens-pond\/","url_meta":{"origin":11556,"position":3},"title":"Protecting Salt Marshes at Allens Pond\u00a0","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"June 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Visitors to Mass Audubon\u2019s Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary in South Dartmouth and Westport may be curious if they spot groups of individuals digging on the sanctuary\u2019s salt marsh.\u00a0 Under the watchful eye of Mass Audubon\u2019s Coastal Resilience Program Director Dr. Danielle Perry and the South East team, they are carving\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/06\/AP_KForesto-0677-2100x1400-1737e326-8e20-4582-a9c9-9b1bc4ce7f93.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/06\/AP_KForesto-0677-2100x1400-1737e326-8e20-4582-a9c9-9b1bc4ce7f93.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/06\/AP_KForesto-0677-2100x1400-1737e326-8e20-4582-a9c9-9b1bc4ce7f93.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/06\/AP_KForesto-0677-2100x1400-1737e326-8e20-4582-a9c9-9b1bc4ce7f93.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14937,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/coastal-climate-vulnerability-assessments\/","url_meta":{"origin":11556,"position":4},"title":"Understanding Coastal Climate Vulnerability","author":"Rishya N.","date":"November 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Our coasts are home to valuable habitats and beloved species. To protect them from climate change and understand how vulnerable these important regions are, Mass Audubon\u2019s Climate Adaptation Ecologist, Dr. Danielle Perry, PhD, laces up her work boots and jumps headfirst into cordgrass and salt water. Joppa Flats Education Center\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/1655JorgeGalvez5718.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/1655JorgeGalvez5718.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/1655JorgeGalvez5718.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/1655JorgeGalvez5718.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10612,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-hero-for-waterbirds\/","url_meta":{"origin":11556,"position":5},"title":"A Hero for Waterbirds","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"March 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Back in 1896, it was the passion and persistence of two Boston women who launched the modern-day conservation movement. When Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall founded Mass Audubon to stop the killing of birds for fashion, they left a lasting impact on the environment and served as an inspiration for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/Carolyn-Mostello-Cropped600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/Carolyn-Mostello-Cropped600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/Carolyn-Mostello-Cropped600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11556"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11572,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11556\/revisions\/11572"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}