Seals found Far from Home

Harp seals from Canada are showing up a long way from their native habitat. It is common for a handfull of juvenile harp seals to end up stranded along the coast of the northeastern United States, but this year 100's of adult harp seals have been spotted, found, or rehabbed along the northeastern coast of the U.S. This year, over 10 seals have been found, or sighted in North Carolina, which is highly unusual for this type of animal, these seals are very rarely this far into the southern United States. Seals are very common near New England, and off the coast of New England, where the most common type of seal is the harbor seal. More than triple the amount of seals typically found Canada, have been showing up alongside coasts in the United States. The harp seals are known as ice seals, which means that they live in snowy, icy, cold climates, but they are migrating to warmer areas for some unknown reason. Many researchers are saying that the seals are are moving into the coasts of the U.S, is because of food, and the climate change in their native habitat. All researchers and scientists are trying hard to figure out what is happening to the seals, but they, along with many people, are worried for what this can or will mean for humans and animals and the future. Regardless of what the real reason is, all scientists and researchers are nervous, and waiting to see what happens.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2011-03-21-canada-harp-seals-usa_N.htm