Hoover (seal) facts for kids

Hoover (born around 1971 – died July 25, 1985) was a special harbor seal. What made him unique was his amazing ability to imitate basic human speech. He could even say full phrases!

Hoover's Early Life in Maine

On May 5, 1971, a tiny male harbor seal pup was found. Scottie Dunning discovered him on the shore of Cundy’s Harbor, Maine. Scottie tried to find the pup’s mother, but couldn't.

So, he called his brother-in-law, George Swallow, for help. When George arrived, they searched together. Sadly, they found the mother seal dead among some rocks.

After thinking carefully, George decided to take the seal pup home. At first, the pup wouldn't drink milk from a bottle. A neighbor suggested grinding up fish for him. The pup then sucked it up quickly, like a vacuum cleaner called a "Hoover." That's how he got his name!

The Swallows kept Hoover in their bathtub for a few days. But this wasn't practical for long. So, George moved him to a spring-fed pond outside. He even built a special "pup tent" with a wire fence for Hoover. Hoover lived much like a family dog. He would even ride into town with George, poking his head out the car window.

As Hoover grew, his appetite grew too! The Swallows had to get a company in Portland, Maine, to supply enough fish. The Swallows talked to Hoover all the time. Alice Swallow wrote in her book, Hoover the Seal and George: "If George was late with Hoover's breakfast, he would come to the back steps." George would yell, "Hello, there."

George and Hoover were great friends. Sometimes Hoover would hide. He wouldn't appear until George yelled, "Get out of there and come over here!" Then Hoover would rush out. He would greet George with a wet, fishy kiss. It was during this time that Hoover started to copy George’s deep, rough accent and favorite sayings.

However, Hoover kept growing and eating a lot of fish. The Swallows sadly realized they couldn't keep him anymore. In August, they contacted the New England Aquarium. The Aquarium agreed to take Hoover to their facility.

Hoover at the New England Aquarium

When they arrived, George told the Aquarium staff that Hoover could talk. But none of the workers believed him. So, George didn't push the point. It wasn't until five years later that Hoover became comfortable. As an adult seal at the Aquarium, he started to say phrases. He would say things like: "Hello, there!" and "Come Over Here!" He said them in a thick New England accent, just like George Swallow's.

Because of this unique ability, Hoover became very famous. He appeared with the Swallows in popular magazines. These included Reader’s Digest and The New Yorker. He was also on the television show Good Morning, America.

Hoover's Passing

Hoover died on July 25, 1985. He had complications during his yearly molt. His obituary (a notice of his death) was published in The Boston Globe newspaper.

Hoover's Lasting Impact

None of Hoover's six pups learned to speak like him. He had three daughters: Joey, Amelia, and Trumpet. He also had three sons: Lucifer, Cinder, and Spark. However, his grandson, Chacoda (also called "Chucky"), has shown some vocal abilities. As of 2007, Chucky still makes sounds. But he hasn't shown an ability to copy human speech. The Aquarium staff continue to work with him.