The Life of a Ringed Seal

Lead Scientist Cate Collins explores how ringed seals survive and thrive in the Arctic.

When we think of Arctic wildlife, polar bears often come to mind first. But behind every healthy polar bear is a vital food source: the ringed seal. These small, clever marine mammals are the most abundant seals in the Arctic and play a critical role in their ecosystem. Despite their size, ringed seals are incredibly resilient, equipped with unique adaptations that help them navigate life beneath thick sea ice and evade predators. In this post, we’ll explore the fascinating world of ringed seals, from how they care for their pups to how they manage to breathe through meters of ice, and why their survival is key to polar bears continuing to thrive.

A ringed seal rests on the ice, never far from its breathing hole in case it needs to make a quick escape.

All About Pups

In late winter or early spring, female ringed seals build birth lairs in snow drifts to give birth to their pups. These lairs are accessed from below the ice and they protect them from predators. Mothers often construct more than one lair in case one is destroyed or discovered by predators.

Each year, a ringed seal typically gives birth to a single pup. At birth, the pup weighs around 10 lbs and is very lean. However, it quickly fattens up by nursing on its mother’s fat-rich milk. Within six weeks, the pup can reach nearly 50 lbs, and half of that is fat.

This early stage is the most dangerous time in a seal’s life. Polar bears are known to break through the roof of these lairs in search of prey. When this happens, mother and pup have only seconds to escape into the water.

A seal pup lies on the ice beside a breathing hole. Pups are born with a downy white coat that keeps them warm until they develop a layer of fat.

Life on the Ice

While seals are far more agile and faster in water than on land, they must still venture onto the sea ice. Mothers come ashore to nurse their pups, and all ringed seals need to haul out during their annual molting period as the heat from the sun helps them shed their old fur.

Even on the ice, seals remain close to their breathing holes and are constantly alert for predators. At any sign of danger, they quickly retreat to the safety of the water. To succeed, polar bears must rely on stealth and perfect timing, catching the seal before it slips through the hole.

Ringed seals maintain these breathing holes using long claws on their fore flippers. In early winter, when the ice is thinner, the surface may resemble Swiss cheese due to the abundance of holes. As the ice thickens, seals focus on maintaining fewer but deeper holes, with some reaching depths of up to two meters.

A polar bear and her cubs with a successful catch.

What Ringed Seals Eat

While polar bears depend on ringed seals for survival, what sustains the seals themselves? Their diet includes a variety of marine species, but Arctic cod is one of their main food sources. These resilient fish are among the few species that can thrive in sub-zero temperatures.

A Changing Climate

The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on the planet, and this has serious consequences for ringed seals. They rely on deep snowdrifts to build and hide their birth lairs. As snow cover decreases due to climate change, pups become more exposed to predators during their vulnerable early weeks.

This shift could cause a chain reaction: fewer seal pups mean less food for polar bears, which may lead to a decline in bear populations. Surprisingly, this could allow the ringed seal population to increase, at least temporarily, in the absence of one of their primary predators.

Ringed seals play a vital role in the Arctic ecosystem, especially as the primary food source for polar bears. Their survival strategies, like building birth lairs and staying close to breathing holes, are not just essential for their own young, but also shape the hunting behavior of polar bears. As climate change reduces snow cover and alters sea ice, the delicate relationship between ringed seals and polar bears is at risk. Fewer seal pups could mean fewer polar bears, so their fates are closely tied in a rapidly changing Arctic.

References

NOAA Fisheries. Ringed Seal. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ringed-seal (Accessed May 7, 2025)

Derocher, A. E., & Lynch, W. (2012). Polar bears: A complete guide to their biology and behavior. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Ocean Conservancy. Polar Cod. https://oceanconservancy.org/wildlife-factsheet/polar-cod/ (Accessed May 7, 2025)

About Gold Star Canadian Tours 

At Gold Star Canadian Tours, we focus on providing the worlds best travel experiences to authentically Canadian destinations. Our flagship tour is a convenient 1-day Polar Bear Expedition with dedicated non-stop charter flights from major airports directly to Churchill, Manitoba. With Gold Star Canadian Tours, the wonders of the Arctic are closer than ever. Your Adventure Awaits!