Harbor Porpoise

The Harbor porpoise is an incredible mammal that you get learn about let's dive in. Both genders of the Harbor Porpoise grow to be 4 feet 7 inches to 6 feet 3 inches. Female Harbor Porpoises are typically larger than males they weigh 168 pounds while males usually weigh 134 pounds. They live in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and the Black sea. These majestic mammals can be found in the coast of west Africa, Spain, Portugal, Iceland, France, united Kingdom, Scandinavia, Ireland, Greenland, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the eastern sea board of the united states. The Harbor Porpoise likes temperate and subarctic waters. They inhabit fjords, bays, estuaries, and harbors hence the name. The Harbor Porpoise eats small pelagic fish such as sardines, herring, Pollack, Hake, Cod, Capelin, and Sprat. Though this is their main diet that they live off of they will eat squids and other crustaceans in certain places. When the Harbor Porpoise is hunting sprats it has been observed and when they hunt this prey option they tend to stay closer to the surface. The Harbor Porpoise is typically a solitary forager, but sometimes on occasion they will herd their fish that they eat in small groups. Significant predators to the Harbor Porpoise are Great White Sharks and Killer whales. Scientists did discover a behavior of bottle nose dolphins they have been observed attacking and killing Harbor Porpoises. The Harbor Porpoise has a gestation period of 10 to 11 months. The Female Harbor Porpoise gives birth to one calf. The Harbor Porpoise was traditionally hunted for food and their blubber. Thousands of Porpoises were hunted in the 1800s, but in 1899 it was banned. Other Threats to this beautiful aquatic mammal are gill nets and tangle nets. I hoped you enjoyed learning about the Harbor Porpoise.