Experience winter on Sable Island
Sable Island National Park Reserve
Did you know that Sable Island is a spectacular winter destination?
Grey seals
Winter on Sable Island brings a unique and awe-inspiring natural event: the arrival of hundreds of thousands of grey seals.
During this time, grey seals gather on the island’s shores and dunes to nurse their pups, wean, and mate. The scale and intensity of this phenomenon is both captivating and unforgettable, offering a rare glimpse into the dynamic cycles of nature.
Horses
Visitors might also have the chance to spot some of the island's iconic wild horses. In winter, their coats grow thick and woolly, providing essential insulation against the cold.
Sable Island: The World's Largest Grey Seal Colony | Parks Canada
Transcript
Sable Island is home to the world’s largest breeding colony of grey seals.
Every winter, thousands of seals arrive to give birth to more than 80,000 pups.
The pups will nurse for 17 days and increase their body mass by almost 2kg every day.
Mature males stay close to the females, defending them from competing males.
Towards the end of lactation, the female will enter “oestrous” and mate.
She will then leave her weaned pup and head to sea.
At this point, the pups begin to lose their white coats.
They grow dense adult-like fur and remain on Sable Island for another three weeks.
Pups born early in the season are the first to leave the beach.
They will stay on the island for another three weeks, and with nothing to eat, they start slimming down.
Now they must teach themselves how to swim and hunt for food.
Guided trips
Parks Canada’s licensed tour operators provide a limited number of guided trips in January and February.
These tours ensure a safe and immersive experience as you explore the island’s dunes and beaches, encountering seals spread across the landscape in their natural habitat.
Availability
Dates
Select dates in January and February
Duration
Day trips only
Group sizes
Maximum 8 participants per trip
Language
- English
Reservations and prices
Book a tour with a Parks Canada licensed tour operator:
- Kattuk Expeditions (helicopter)
- Picture Perfect Tours (helicopter)
Related links
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