It’s Springtime in Antarctica now, and Weddell seals are retuning to the Erebus Bay area for the Weddell seal pupping season to begin near McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Our Antarctica Field Research Team is preparing to begin their deployment from Bozeman, MT to McMurdo Station to start their 2026 seasonal field research work.

In future Field Blog posts we will be introducing the 2026 Antarctica Field Research Team, and bringing you news as it happens over the field season, as well as numerous photos, videos, field reports, a little project history and more from the 2026 Erebus Bay Weddell Seal Population Study Field Team throughout the nearly 3-month Weddell seal pupping season. And it looks to be another very interesting season ahead!

This long-term Study is funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF), with support through the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), through a grant managed by Montana State University (MSU). The views expressed in this field blog do not necessarily represent those of NSF, USAP or MSU. Please stay tuned as our 2026 Antarctica Weddell Seal field research season gets underway in Antarctica!

• Mary Lynn Price, multimedia specialist