How do you study the diet and eating habits of seals? As they hunt in the open water, it’s almost impossible to see what they’re putting into their mouths.
But there is another way.
Lisa Sette is a biologist with the Center for Coastal Studies, working on a year-long project to study the diet of seals by collecting samples of their scat.
Collections take place on beaches and other seal haul-outs at low tide. Back in the laboratory, the scat is passed through sieves, revealing the identifying remains of the seals' prey. Sette calls it an "elegant process."
And what does seal scat look like?
Ever walked a dog? Then you've got a good idea.
Both harbor and grey seals are included in the study, which began in January and will continue all year, to form a clearer idea of how the seals' diet changes seasonally.
You can hear Steve Junker's interview with Sette in the audio below.