What do we call seals?

These words are used to describe the age, sex and breeding stage of seals.

• Baby seals are called pups

• Seals between one and three years old are called juveniles

• Female seals are called cows

• Young males from 3 to about 6 years old are not fully grown and are

called sub-adults

• Fully grown males are called bulls

• Fully grown males that hold breeding territories during the breeding season are called territorial bulls

• Fully grown males that do not hold breeding territories during the breeding season are called bachelors

• Groups of breeding seals are called a colony, although in north America they are referred to as rookeries