The freeze-up of Hudson Bay near Rankin Inlet is part of the transition from fall to winter. During the early stages of freeze-up, ringed seals bask in the sun on the ice along the shore. Once the ice expands, the seals move on, so the opportunity to view them lounging like this lasts only one or two weeks.
RINGED SEALS have small heads with short, cat-like snouts. The Zaftig bodies of the adults weigh up to 70 kilograms and average about 1.5 metres in length.
THE SMALLEST and Most common of the seal species, ringed seals are a favourite of polar bears. but their other predators include Arctic foxes, walruses, wolves—and, of Course, humans.
USING THE CLAWS on their fore flippers, ringed seals create breathing holes in ice as thick as two metres.
THE SPECIES-AT-RISK status of the ringed seal is special concern. The main threat is reduced sea ice and snow cover due to climate change.
