Who doesn’t love seals? Who couldn’t love those big, expressive, liquid eyes and cute little round bodies so very obviously not ideal for travel by land, but beautifully made to cut through water with impressive speed and agility? Well, it turns out there are plenty of people on both coasts of the U.S. and Canada who don’t care for seals – at all.

Alix Morris set out to figure out the exact source of the conflict between people and seals. She failed. But it wasn’t for trying, and she was never going to succeed in the first place. Seals, despite their adorable faces and curious dispositions, are single-minded in their consumption of fish. Fish trying to move upstream in a human-built ladder to bypass a dam are a concentrated buffet. Fish hooked on a fisherman’s bait are free samples. Fish held by a commercial company’s net can be convinced to turnaround so seals can pick them off.

And as the number of fish dwindle, the number of seals has risen exponentially. So, too, have shark sightings and interactions increased as the apex predators of the sea hunt down their own meals. But that’s only a tiny fraction of the larger story because seals have held a place in maritime history for centuries. Why now are seals and humans in greater conflict than ever before?

Morris talks with experts on all sides of the issue, from marine mammal rescue organizations, government organizations, and biologists to Native Americans, fisherman, and tourists. She travels to remote islands to see pupping season. She jumps in on rescues and even a seal necropsy. And she asks the tough questions looking for some kind of answer to why seals and humans on the northern coasts are just not getting along in so many cases.

While Morris may end up with more questions than answers, the one answer that keeps popping up may surprise readers.

As an avid reader across genres, but one with a soft spot for nature and conservation, I found A Year with the Seals a wonderfully enlightening book. Told through a mix of history, anecdotes (both heart-warming and heart-breaking), data and personal observations, Morris presents the status of a variety of seals so thoroughly that I’m already looking forward to future updates them, their protectors, and the local players pushing to intervene with the growing seal population.

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Big thanks to Alonquin for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, I think the author does a very good job of maintain balance while talking about the debates around seals, while also just giving good seal content. I also definitely appreciate that Morris loves the seals, and cares deeply about the topic she chose to write about. She also did a great job at making some of the more science-y stuff in a way that was easy to understand.

All in all, I had a good time, and if you're a seal fan, I'd definitely say you'd like this one!

I absolutely loved reading this! I have recently gotten more into non-fiction, and I love animal non-fiction books. This one did NOT disappoint if you like seals.

I was so excited to receive this ARC. I'm obsessed with seals. *A Year with the Seals* by Alix Morris is a captivating exploration of the charismatic and controversial creatures that inhabit our coastal waters. Through the lens of a year-long journey, Morris delves into the lives of seals, uncovering their intelligence, inter-species relationships, and the complex dynamics between humans and these marine mammals. The narrative not only sheds light on the seals' behaviors and habitats but also examines the broader environmental and societal implications of their resurgence, offering readers a thought-provoking perspective on conservation and coexistence. This was everything, and more, that I wanted!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Seals are adorable creatures, so I decided to read this book to learn more about them.

I had no idea that seals were controversial in any way, so I actually learned a lot from this book. It was really interesting to see different people's arguments for and against the seals and people's relationships with them on both sides.

I'm glad people who read this book will learn about Hoover, he's great and more people should know about him. If you haven't watched the videos seals talking and singing, you absolutely should!

The book was overall well written, but got a bit unfocused at the end.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the conversation around seals.

This was such a good and insightful book. Morris does an excellent job of giving space for all sides to tell their story and make their arguments, allowing for a very nuanced discussion around conversation efforts and the relationship between seals, people, and the world around us.

An endorsement made by 'the' nature writer of our generation, Sy Montgomery, is what primarily gravitated me to this book.
But it was Alix Morris' writing which had me engrossed till the very last page.

This author creates a wonderful read by interspersing her personal experiences in real time from witnessing/participating in rehabilitation efforts as well to the other end of the spectrum, actively listening and acknowledging the cultural implications for Indigenous people of seal hunting. Her research has her travel up to the beaches of Maine and Cape Cod then out West to Seattle. There she meets with activists, scientists, and fishermen. You'll even meet memorable seals along the way.

But where she truly excels is in gently prodding the reader to examine all facets of what has become a contentious issue as to the treatment of seals.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Algonquin Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: A Year with the Seals by Alix Morris
In the wake of a fatal shark attack in Maine during the summer of 2020, the finger of blame was pointed at the rising seal population. In A Year with the Seals, Alix Morris embarks on a year-long investigation to uncover the truth about these misunderstood animals.
Morris takes readers on a captivating journey—beginning with the incredible story of Hoover, the talking seal (trust me, you need to read this) and following sea lions staking out fish ladders in Puget Sound. She talks in depth with fishers and people whose livelihoods are affected by rising seal populations, and goes to extraordinary lengths to visit remote grey seal breeding colonies and spends time with the dedicated team at Marine Mammals of Maine, who work tirelessly to rehabilitate pups impacted by human activity.
But this book isn’t just about seals; it’s about the complex realities of conservation, the challenges of human-wildlife conflict—and, perhaps more accurately, the tensions between people with competing interests in marine ecosystems. Morris presents meticulous research in a highly readable and engaging style, balancing scientific rigor with storytelling. She clearly builds strong rapport with her interviewees, presenting differing viewpoints with nuance and respect.
I’ve read many books on marine mammals, but this one stands out—not just for its depth of research and compelling narrative, but for the way it challenges us to reconsider our relationship with the natural world.
Thank you Algonquin Books for providing an advance content copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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Note to publisher, to be excluded from review – I found a few erroneous looking ¾ symbols, which I think should possibly have been em-dash?