Belugas, Belugas Everywhere: Overview of Out-of-Range Belugas this Spring

Thus, in addition to being in unusual places, belugas outside the area are often solitary, which worries QMMERN experts. Indeed, when isolated from their peers, gregarious-by-nature belugas tend to develop sociable behaviours with objects or humans, which makes them more vulnerable to accidents. For example, a beluga that repeatedly interacts with boat propellers in a harbour may let down its guard and no longer perceive the danger normally associated with moving boats. This is why it is important to give the beluga its space and not interact with it, in order to increase the chances that it will find other members of its species.

Additionally, these wandering belugas sometimes develop a routine and an attachment to a port or marina. Over time, they therefore become less and less inclined to leave and their troubling stay is extended. This is the case of a beluga that lingered in the port of Matane for almost a month. First observed in late May, it was seen almost every day thereafter by QMMERN volunteers and fishermen. Fortunately, it ultimately left on his own!

Belugas aren’t the only whales to roam widely. The many stories of stray whales show that these situations are not altogether abnormal.

In the case of the beluga in Matane, it may have splintered off from its group during the latter’s spring migration from the Gulf to the Estuary. Certain belugas also seem to have an exploratory character, which would explain their presence in the Maritimes.

And if these nomadic belugas stay in their new home, it may be because they are finding food there. Indeed, several of the vagrant belugas identified this spring have been observed hunting and feeding. Moreover, when they settle in a port or a marina, they manage to fill their need for interaction, which might compensate for the absence of the numerous social contacts they would normally have with their peers. However, these interactions with humans compromise the safety of the animal, which could be tempted to prolong its stay and thereby increase the risk of collisions.

For belugas outside their normal range, response options are rather limited. Most often, the QMMERN focuses on outreach: by informing the local population of the beluga’s presence and the importance of keeping a safe distance, the length of the animal’s stay and the risk of accidents are potentially reduced. For example, in mid-June, when a beluga took up residence in the barachois of the Bonaventure River, a popular spot with boaters and fishermen, the QMMERN mobile team went to meet with nearly a dozen organizations and businesses and 70 local residents. Informative posters were put up throughout the area.

The QMMERN relies on a network of volunteers, who are its eyes and ears on the ground. Volunteers diligently document the behaviour and state of health of vagrant belugas in Quebec waters. By sharing their observations, proactive companies and organizations also become valuable collaborators. Thus, the QMMERN and its partners are quickly notified of any change in the situation, which allows them to make the most well-informed decisions.

In the past, the QMMERN has already attempted a number of scare tactics to encourage a beluga to leave a busy area. Increased boating traffic posed an imminent threat to the safety of the beluga, which did not seem inclined to leave the area on its own. Ultimately, the intervention was unsuccessful, which is testimony to the difficulty in influencing the behaviour of wild animals, which are free to move around as they wish.