In general it has been a year of mixed fortunes for the Tees seals. Our only breeding species is the Harbour Seal. There were 12 pups born in 2009, which equals the record of last year. However, of these 3 were stillborn, while the remaining 9 were healthy. Sadly this is not unusual in Harbour Seal colonies, but is the first observed stillbirth for some years at Teesmouth.

In terms of adult seals, the news is more positive, with the maximum number of each species seen at low tide at Teesmouth being 70 for Harbour Seal and 25 for our non-breeding species, the Grey Seal, both observed on the 9th of September. The Harbour Seal maximum compares favourably with previous years, being only one less than the 2002 peak, while the Grey Seal is slightly lower (better than  2007 & 2008, but lower than the 2005 peak of 31).