Harbor seals spend the cold months in the waters off the Bronx. Long Island Sound is home to a harbor seal community that overwinters in its warmer water, and from now through the end of the year NYC Parks' Urban Park Rangers are leading free walks in Pelham Bay Park to go look for them off the shore of Orchard Beach, along with owls, animal tracks and the trails of Hunter Island.

Pelham Bay Park is the city's largest park, at the northeastern corner of the Bronx, and its rangers run the programs out of two bases: the Pelham Bay Nature Center near the park's southern edge and the Orchard Beach Nature Center by the water. Every program below is free, and none of them requires registration.

Saturday, Oct. 31: animal tracking, costumes welcome

The season starts on Halloween. From noon to 1 p.m., rangers lead a beginner's walk on wildlife tracking: how to read the clues animals leave behind, from tracks and trails to feeding signs and the shape of a habitat, and which creatures live in the park. Rangers say costumes are welcome, as long as the wearer is ready for an outdoor walk in comfortable shoes. It meets at the Pelham Bay Nature Center, Bruckner Boulevard and Wilkinson Avenue.

Sunday, Nov. 15: Hunter Island

From 11 a.m. to noon, the rangers' Hiking Club series takes beginners onto the trails of Hunter Island, where forest, wetland and shoreline meet in the park's northeast corner. It is billed as a first-steps hike, with fresh air and light exercise. Meet at the North Picnic Area.

Saturday, Nov. 21: owls

From 11 a.m. to noon, rangers lead a birding walk focused on owls: the species found in city parks, how they behave and what they eat, and, with luck, a sighting. Beginners and every skill level are welcome. It starts at the Orchard Beach Pavilion. A second owl walk follows on Sunday, Dec. 27, from 1 to 2 p.m., meeting at Section 2 of Orchard Beach.

Sunday, Nov. 22: the seals

From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., rangers lead the first seal exploration of the season from the Orchard Beach Nature Center, going to the shoreline spots where the harbor seals can be seen in their natural habitat and talking about how the animals live. The program repeats on Saturday, Dec. 19, from noon to 1 p.m., and a kids' version runs during the rangers' winter Kids Week on Wednesday, Dec. 30, from 11 a.m. to noon at Section 2 of Orchard Beach.

Saturday, Nov. 28: the hibernation hike

The weekend after Thanksgiving, from 10 to 11 a.m., rangers lead a walk around the park about how animals get ready for winter, from the adaptations that let them survive the cold to the behaviors that carry them through it. NYC Parks flags this one as best for kids. It meets at the Pelham Bay Nature Center.

And to start 2027

The rangers close the run with their New Year's Day Super Hike on Friday, Jan. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting at the Pelham Bay Nature Center.

Getting there

The 6 train ends at Pelham Bay Park station, near the Pelham Bay Nature Center at Bruckner Boulevard and Wilkinson Avenue. Orchard Beach and the North Picnic Area sit farther into the park along the water. The rangers' contact lines are 718-319-7258 for the seal and tracking programs and 718-548-0912 for the Hunter Island and hibernation hikes.

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