Harp seals are marine mammals, which are broadly distributed throughout North Atlantic arctic waters during summer. Three breeding populations are recognized: one in the White Sea off the coast of northern Russia, and a second occurs near Spitsbergen, northwest of the Norwegian mainland and the third is native to Canada. Here harp seals are born in late February and early March on sea ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off northeastern Newfoundland. All populations undergo large scale season migrations, with the Canadian population travelling to the Canadian high Arctic and west Greenland in summer where the feed on sandlance and Arctic cod.

Harp seals have elliptical bodies covered with thin fur. They have a canine-like snout, large, dark eyes and, like all true seals, have no external ears. Their front flippers are small but equipped with sharp claws for efficient movement across ice and powerful hind flippers used during swimming. Harp seals get their name from the dark harp-shape pattern on their back (although some adult females retain the spotted juvenile coat). Their fur is light grey, becoming white on their underside and black on their face and tail. Harp seals can grow to 1.6 meters in length and weight up to 180 kg, averaging 130 kilograms. They may live about 35 years. Pups are weaned for only 12 days of feeding on energy rich milk.