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Basking ringed seals

Seals basking on the sea ice

The Arctic Environment: Unlike most of the other sea mammals who live in the Canadian High Arctic, ringed seals are not migratory and reside year-round. During the winter they maintain breathing holes through the sea ice. In the late spring and early summer before the ice breaks up they spend time basking on the ice, but always maintaining a wary watch for polar bears. Hunting basking seals using a throwing harpoon was one of the most skill-testing hunting techniques.