There is no population estimate for the bearded seal, however they are much less common than the ringed seal. They are permanent residents of the Arctic and are generally found as solitary individuals in areas associated with moving pack ice, such as leads and polynyas. They maintain breathing holes in areas of thin ice by breaking through with their heads.

The bearded seal diet consists of bottom-dwelling organisms found in the shallower waters of the continental shelf.  These include worms, crustaceans, clams, crabs and fish, such as arctic cod, sculpin and flounder. Feeding dives as deep as 220 m have been reported.

An undisturbed seal swims with its head and back above the water.  When sleeping, it floats vertically.  The senses of sight and hearing are good while its ability to smell is fair. They sing long musical underwater songs. Singing activity peaks in April and May. A highly varied vocal repertoire indicates a complex social structure that is not well understood. It may be related to claims of territory and breeding condition. Mating occurs in mid-May with a delayed implantation of two months and a gestation period of approximately 11 months.

A single pup is born on the ice at the end of April to early May.  Bearded seals are the only northern seal with four mammae rather than two. The mother-pup bond is strong during the relatively short 12 to 18 days of the nursing period. The pups are then left on their own. A female may give birth every one or two years.  Sexual maturity is attained at six years of age.

Bearded seals have always been important to the Inuit of the Arctic. The tough, flexible hide is valued for utilitarian purposes, such as lines, traces, kayak coverings and kamik (boot) soles. The meat is suitable for human and dog food; however, the liver may contain toxic levels of vitamin A and accumulated residues of mercury, DDT, DDE and dieldrin. The roundworm Trichinella may be transmitted to people who eat raw or frozen bearded seal meat.