Over the years, the population of fur seals has been depleting. However, recently, the fur seals have been coming in greater numbers at an unusual spot- the tip of an active underwater volcano at Bogoslof Island. The female fur seals find the rocky beaches of Bogoslof Island perfect for giving birth and raising their young. Bogoslof Island is located at the Bering Sea, and the majority of the world’s northern fur seals breed in this general area. However, scientists are not entirely sure why seals choose such a volatile island over the other numerous uninhabited islands in the area.
These fur seals were first spotted on Bogoslof Island in 1980, and NOAA researchers have noticed an annual growth in the population of baby fur seals in recent years. Scientists hypothesize that the food near the island could be a factor in seals breeding in such a volatile area. Scientists have also observed that seals on Bogoslof return from gathering food in a shorter amount of time compared to seals on different islands. Additionally, the location of Bogoslof Island enables the baby seals to avoid storms in the Bering Sea. Assuming the conditions on this island remain stable, scientists predict that the population of fur seals on Bogoslof Island will continue to grow in size.
