Harbor Seal
By:  Michelle

 Harbors seals are mammals, that are hairy, warm-blooded, air breathing animals which suckle their young.  They weigh about 24 pounds at birth and gain weight rapidly during a month-long suckling period, perhaps doubling their weight.  Average weight for adults is about 180 pounds.  Harbor Seals are able to dive to deeper depths exceeding 600 feet and can remain submerged for over thirty minutes.  Harbor seals are graceful and efficient swimmers.  An interesting thing about the seals is that they use their flippers as propulsion and for flippers as rudders.  Movement on land however, is slow and laborious.
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  The Mink
By:  Michelle

 Mink are chocolate brown with some irregular white patches on it’s chin, throat, and belly.   Like the skunk, Mink discharge a fetid liquid from their scent glands when they are afraid or excited.  The odor is very strong and unpleasant to most people.  Mink will eat virtually anything they can catch and kill, including fish, birds, birds eggs, insects, crabs, clams, and small mammals.  Mink like streams, ponds, beaches or marshes.  Occasional predators of the Mink include wolves, foxes, hawks, owls, lynx, and river otters.  Mink trapping provides both recreation and income for some Alaskans.

Sources
All About Animals (Book)

Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series
www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/notebook/notehome.htm
 

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