Seals are carnivores. They spend much of their time in the water where they ___________ for fish.

Everything the seals need to survive is close by. A(n) ____________ ocean provides them with food, and the rocks provide them with a sanctuary from predators.

Many rocks favored by seals are underwater at high tide. As the tide ________, they become visible and available to the seals.

Harbor seals are hard to see against a rocky background. Their gray and black coloring give them a natural ___________.

A seal's coat and a rocky surface look very similar. They share the same general coloring, and each has a(n) ___________ appearance.

While in the water, seals are possible prey for sharks and killer whales. Basking on the rocks, they are safe from being ________ by predators.

Harbor seals need to move swiftly, both to catch food and to avoid being caught. They can be ____________ on land but not in the water.

When they are hunting, seals quickly burn up the oxygen in their blood. They ___________ it by lying quietly in the sun.

A seal can change course rapidly by using its front flippers. Its life depends on its ability to ___________ swiftly while in the water.

A seal may not know it's in danger until it's too late. The ___________ water of the New England coast cuts down visibility to just a few feet.

Seal fat is called blubber. It needs to be quite thick in order to provide adequate ____________ against the cold Atlantic waters.

The seal is not built to move gracefully on land. Thanks to its _____________ shape, it swims effortlessly and swiftly once in the water.

Baby seals are dependent on their mothers for the first six to eight weeks. Once ___________, they must be able to hunt for their own food.

Seals kept in captivity may lost their fear of predators. Once returned to the ocean, they must learn to be ___________ again.