Seals have varied personalities in response to parenting

Researchers studying grey seal colonies have learned that while some mothers are attentive and regularly check on their pups, other mothers take a more relaxed parenting style. These differences are believed to be manifestations of more fundamental differences in their psychological makeup. While we often think of our pets as having differing personalities, it's studies like these that show wild animals too have distinct behavioral differences, something of current interest to those in the field. Continued research will make the seal data a rich resource for understanding animal behavior in a wider context.