City Life

Get to Know RI's State Marine Mammal

The harbor seal, the "dog of the ocean" is the state's newest mascot

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It’s almost hard to believe that Rhode Island did not have a state marine mammal until now – after all, we are the Ocean State – but as of July of this year, one was finally declared: the Harbor Seal.

When walking up to the Harbor Seal exhibit at Roger Williams Park Zoo, it is easy to see why the Harbor Seal is an excellent choice. The two seals in the exhibit, Action and Bubba, circle around, pop their adorable faces out of the water to the amusement of zoo-goers on the upper deck and swim playfully underwater for those at the lower viewing level. It’s hard to resist loving an animal considered to be a dog of the ocean, but you may still be wondering – why the Harbor Seal?

“It only makes sense to have the Harbor Seal as our state marine mammal because it is native to Rhode Island and has a very large population,” explains Lisa Konicki, President of the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, who spearheaded the campaign to make the Harbor Seal our state marine mammal. “We hope to not only help drive tourism in the state, but also to raise awareness about the Harbor Seal by doing so.”
 
So where can the curious find this new mascot in the wild? “The Harbor Seal is prevalent in numerous communities, and can be seen at Rome Point Park in North Kingstown, as well as on the Harbor Seal Cruises conducted by Save the Bay,” says Lisa. Peak viewing time for the Harbor Seal is in late March – a perfect way to brighten up a chilly early spring day. For wild seals, PJ Jones, Animal Care Manager at Roger Williams Park Zoo, recommends viewing them from a distance. “Doing so will allow you to see a wider range of natural behavior,” he explains.

state marine mammal, harbor seals, rhode island state animal, roger williams park zoo, Lisa Konicki, Nicole Nedwidek, providence monthly, ashley maclure, Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, PJ Jones

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