Geocaching is a hobby that has something for everyone. According to the Geocaching guidelines, a 1 terrain cache needs to be wheelchair accessible. Finding caches that have higher difficulty ratings and a terrain of 1 is sometimes difficult. At the time of this write-up there were only 884 5/1 caches in the US and only 24 in Pennsylvania. Here is a puzzle that will take time to solve but the cache should be easy to find.
The Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) is a relatively large and abundant true seal with a circumpolar distribution surrounding Antarctica. The Weddell seal was discovered and named in the 1820s during expeditions led by British sealing captain James Weddell to the area of the Southern Ocean now known as the Weddell Sea. Weddell seals measure about 8 ft. 2 in. – 11 ft. 6 in. long and weigh 880–1,320 lb. They are among the largest seals, with a rather bulky body and short fore flippers relative to their body length. Males weigh less than females, usually about 1,100 lb. or less. Male and female Weddell seals are generally about the same length, though females can be slightly larger. However, the male seal tends to have a thicker neck and a broader head and muzzle than the female. The Weddell seal face has been compared to that of a cat due to a short mouth line and similarities in the structure of the nose and whiskers.
Weddell seals are the second most abundant species of Antarctic phocid (true or earless seals), after the crabeater seal. The most recent estimate suggests a population of about 202,000 female seals, based on high-resolution satellite images from November 2011 that cover the full habitat range of the species. This number includes females only, as males are mostly underwater guarding their territories in November. There are likely to be fewer males than females, as the ratio skews towards females with increasing age. Weddell seals usually give birth to one pup per year; however the Weddell seal is one of the only species of seals that can give birth to twin pups. The maximum lifespan of the species is estimated at least 25 years.
**Weddell Seal, Antarctica, 3/2025, photo used with the permission of the photographer. Weddell Seal info from Wikipedia.
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