CategoryMarine Mammal Emergencies

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Out-of-Habitat Seals

It is not unusual to see seals in the upper reaches of the St. Lawrence River (article in French)… sometimes…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 5/12/2024

Stranded Beaked Whale on Île d’Orléans

On October 23, the carcass of a northern bottlenose whale was discovered on the banks of Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d’Orléans, near Quebec City.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 7/11/2024

Out-of-Habitat Cetaceans

What a surprise it was for Montréal’s urbanites when a humpback whale visited the city’s port in 2020! This event…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 31/10/2024

Tic Tac Toe – Live

The humpback whale Tic Tac Toe has been back in the Marine Park since May 29. Images transmitted to the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 11/6/2024

2023 Beluga Mortality Assessment: The Trend Continues

According to data from the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN), last year saw the recovery of 17 beluga…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 25/4/2024

Satellite Teams: Strengthening QMMERN’s Response Capacity across Quebec’s Vast Territory

With fewer phone calls coming into Marine Mammal Emergencies (UMM) in winter than during the high season, it’s the perfect…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 28/3/2024

Humpback Observed Earlier This Summer Washes Up in the Gaspé

On Wednesday, October 25, a humpback whale carcass washed up in Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis in the Gaspé Peninsula. It was a male…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 30/11/2023

Stranded Sperm Whale on the North Shore

On November 6, flying above the gulf fifteen kilometres from the village of Baie-Johan-Beetz, a helicopter pilot notices a greyish…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 23/11/2023

Best Practices to Adopt Near Seals

Although they are marine mammals, pinnipeds carry out a number of their most important activities out of water. Indeed, napping,…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 5/7/2023

Satellite Tagging: One More Step Toward Helping Entangled Cetaceans in Quebec

On May 23 and 24, several members of the team from the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN) and…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 15/6/2023

40th Year of Beluga Carcass Recovery Program: Persistent Concerns in 2022

Over the past year, 12 beluga carcasses were discovered adrift or on the shores of the St. Lawrence by the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 30/3/2023

Winter Pupping Season: A Risky Affair

The diminishing ice cover observed in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in recent years is having an impact…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 2/3/2023

Advancing Marine Mammal Research, One Sample at a Time

When a marine mammal carcass is found stranded or adrift in the waters of the St. Lawrence, the Quebec Marine…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 16/2/2023

Deep-water denizen stranded in Sept-Îles

Last October 23, a True’s beaked whale beached itself and died in the Bay of Sept-Îles. The causes of this…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/1/2023

Avian Flu: First Documented Case in Cetaceans in Quebec

Last September, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network received a report of an Atlantic white-sided dolphin carcass near Rimouski.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 30/11/2022

Harbour Seals in St. Lawrence Affected by Avian Flu

Last June, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN) received an abnormally high number of reports of dead or…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 2/8/2022

Entangled Humpback – A Chronicle

On Wednesday, July 13, a humpback whale was spotted off the coast of Les Escoumins accompanied by a calf that…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 26/7/2022

A Day in Good Company

On Sunday, July 3, a minke whale carcass was found on Île Vertein Quebec’s Bas-Saint-Laurent region. This is practically the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 14/7/2022

Spring 2022: A Busy Season for QMMERN 

Seal pups harassed on the beaches, discovery of pinniped carcasses along the shores, vagrant minke whales in Montréal: these are…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 23/6/2022

Seals That Don’t Need Our Help

Spring is here and the seal pupping season is in full swing. The Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN)…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 30/5/2022

Minke whale updates

This page is dedicated to the presence of two minke whales in the waters of Montreal. It is updated several…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 11/5/2022

Minke Whales in Montreal – Your Questions

Two minke whales have been observed in Montreal, near St. Helen's Island. The first individual has been in the area…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 9/5/2022

First Beluga Carcass Discovered in Les Escoumins

This is the first beluga whale carcass recovered for the 2022 season under the carcass recovery program initiated in 1983.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 29/4/2022

Mortality 2021: An Ominous Year for Belugas

2021 will be no exception. Once again, researchers and specialists are concerned by the mortalities being observed in the St.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/4/2022

Volunteers Needed for Marine Mammal Emergencies

Volunteers are our eyes and our hands in the field. In addition to helping the scientific community gain vital knowledge…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 17/3/2022

Marine Mammal Emergencies on the Ready this Holiday Season

While the end-of-year holidays are a good time to relax and celebrate with family, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 16/12/2021

2021: Another Busy Year for Marine Mammal Emergencies

By Mélissa Tremblay, Head of the Marine Mammal Emergencies call centre Beginning in November, Marine Mammal Emergencies (UMM)  generally receives…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 3/12/2021

Why is it important not to touch a marine mammal carcass?

By Marie-Maude Rondeau Ever heard of Valleau, the sperm whale whose carcass washed ashore in L’Anse-à-Valleau in 2003? Today, this…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 4/11/2021

Two Beaked Whales Stranded Alive in Chaleur Bay

On Thursday, September 30, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN) receives a report of two whales stranded alive…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 7/10/2021

Wounded seal: what to do?

As you pace the shores of the St. Lawrence, you come face to face with a seal. So far, nothing…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 11/8/2021

Beached Fin Whale in Forillon National Park

On June 19, an employee of Forillon National Park discovers a fin whale carcass at the bottom of a cliff…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 13/7/2021
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

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

From Matane and Bonaventure, Quebec to Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, belugas seem to be everywhere this…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 29/6/2021

Busy Start to the Season at Marine Mammal Emergencies

As is the case every year, the arrival of warm, sunny days is synonymous with an uptick in the number…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 9/6/2021

Leatherback Turtle Carcass in Gaspé

In late April, a local resident discovers a very decomposed carcass on Haldimand Beach in Gaspé. All that remains are…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 3/6/2021

Protecting Young Harbour Seals on the Beaches

In May and June, many residents will have the opportunity to observe young seals on the beaches, as it is…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 27/5/2021

One year later, what can we learn from the humpback whale’s journey from Québec City to Montréal?

It left millions astonished, concerned, dazzled and sensitized, even as the province was under lockdown. The juvenile (2 to 4 years…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 21/5/2021

Resting, Pupping and Moulting: The Importance of Getting Out of the Water for Seals

Even if they are marine mammals, seals have to return to land for some of their activities. Amphibious in nature,…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 23/4/2021

First Beluga Carcass of 2021 Found in Tadoussac

On March 27, a beluga carcass was discovered in Tadoussac by an individual who was out for a stroll. The…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 1/4/2021

Seals Invade the Shorelines

Now that the ice has receded from the St. Lawrence, seals must find new platforms out of the water to…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 29/3/2021

Harbour Porpoise Succombs to Dolphin Attacks

For the harbour porpoise, human activities are not the only threats it faces. The smallest cetacean in the St. Lawrence…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 2/3/2021

Young Grey Seal Found in Magdalen Island Interior

When a young grey seal is found nearly a kilometre inland in the Magdalen Islands, what’s the best course of…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 5/2/2021

Following Comprehensive Analysis, Cause of Death of Montréal Humpback Remains Undetermined

Despite having analyzed cross-referenced data on the body condition, behaviour and the carcass of a female humpback that visited Montréal,…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 27/1/2021

Rare Striped Dolphin Discovered in Maliotenam

It is quite unusual for a striped dolphin to be found anywhere in the St. Lawrence, to say the least.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 16/12/2020

Cetacean Stranded Alive: Call First

Whether it is a whale, a porpoise or a dolphin that you find stranded on the beach or swimming in…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 15/12/2020

The Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network Thanks Its 187 Volunteers

What would the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN) be without its 187 volunteers? Thanks to the 160 hours…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 3/12/2020

Dolphin Runs Aground in Magdalen Islands But Returns to Sea

A dolphin found itself in an awkward position on November 21 near Gros-Cap, in the Magdalen Islands. Out for a…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 26/11/2020

The ice is back… And so are the winter seals!

Whether on shore, on the rocks or on ice, seals can appear throughout the Gulf of St. Lawrence or the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 5/11/2020
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

Beluga Carcass in Cacouna

A beluga carcass washed up in Cacouna on October 18, 2020. This young male is the fifteenth beluga to be…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 26/10/2020

Right Whales in the Estuary: Exceptional Response for an Exceptional Presence

Among its many missions, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN) manages cases of marine mammals known as “vagrants”,…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 15/10/2020
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

Harbour porpoise or beluga?

Although the beluga is sometimes referred to as a “white porpoise” and has several similarities to the harbour porpoise, the terms “beluga”…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 14/9/2020

Seals in Town

In 2020, four different species of seals were observed in the Montréal metropolitan region, hundreds of kilometres from their normal…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 21/8/2020

Troubled Humpback in the Marine Park

Updated to August 25, 2020 Despite active search parties by fishery officers and collaborators, the entangled humpback whale was not…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 18/8/2020

Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network Sets Up Mobile Team

In order to be able to respond more quickly and efficiently to emergencies involving marine mammals along the shores of…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 11/8/2020

Inside the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network Call Centre

What happens on the other end of the line while and after a case is reported to the Quebec Marine…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 28/7/2020
DL juvenile échoué

Reporting Carcasses: What’s the point?

The answer is simple: by reporting a carcass to the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN), you are helping…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 20/7/2020

Young Bearded Seal in Laval

A young bearded seal is observed from June 23 to June 28 at the BoBiNo marina in Laval. This species…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 25/6/2020
Béluga carcasse

What is the purpose of this tag and chord?

Many people are concerned by the tags and chords they occasionally see attached to a seal or whale carcass. Sometimes,…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 18/6/2020

Various Cases Keeping Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network Busy

Although all the projectors have been on the stray humpback whale between Québec City and Montréal, this individual is not the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 12/6/2020

Dead Humpback Found in Varennes Victim of Ship Strike

On June 10, the team from Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine performed a necropsy on the whale, meaning…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 11/6/2020

Visiting Humpback in Fluvial Estuary (Québec City – Montréal)

The humpback as an ambassador for a greater cause We understand the emotional aspect of the situation. Local residents who…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 8/6/2020
MN à Montreal Juin 2020

Sometimes, Best Way to Help Whale is to Leave It Alone

Many people have been writing to us to express their concern about the humpback whale currently in Montréal. We appreciate…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 3/6/2020

2019 Beluga Mortality Report

“Mortality figures for 2019 are hardly reassuring,” comments Robert Michaud, scientific director for the Group for Research and Education on…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 21/5/2020

First Beluga Carcass of 2020 on the Shores of the St. Lawrence

A beluga carcass washed ashore in Matane late in the day on May 15. This is the first case this…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 21/5/2020

Vagrant Alert: Beluga Seen in Chaleur Bay Area

On April 15, a beluga was observed in Chaleur Bay near Saint-Siméon-de-Bonaventure, in the Gaspé Peninsula. Witnesses contacted the Quebec…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 16/4/2020

Intriguing Cases Involving Seals in the Magdalen Islands

Seven seal carcasses were reported in the Magdalen Islands and one in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region over the weekend of April…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 8/4/2020

New Measures: Impact of COVID-19 on Capacity to Respond to Marine Mammal Emergencies

In order to comply with current government guidelines for COVID-19, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN) is continually…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 1/4/2020

Impact of COVID-19 on Emergency Response Capacity of Marine Mammal Emergencies

The Marine Mammal Emergencies call centre remains active as usual, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. If you…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 27/3/2020

A busy season for 1-877-7BALEINE, and it’s not over yet!

The summer 2019 season has drawn to a close. It’s time for the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN)…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 21/11/2019

Humpback Entangled off Forillon Park

Late in the day on August 25, 2019, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network receives a report for a…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 9/9/2019

Live Stranded Sowerby’s Beaked Whale Near Île Verte

On the afternoon of August 25, a beaked whale is observed dangerously close to the shores of Île Verte. The…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 27/8/2019
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

Twelfth Beluga Carcass This Year Found on the Banks of the St. Lawrence

A beluga carcass washed up in the Gaspé town of Les Méchins on August 6. The newborn beluga still had…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 7/8/2019

Female beluga DL0584 dies while giving birth

An eighth beluga carcass washed up on the banks of the St. Lawrence River on July 4. The individual has…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 9/7/2019

Two New Carcasses and Second Right Whale Necropsy for 2019

The Government of Canada announced in a press release that it had discovered two new carcasses offshore, near the Acadian…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies, News 26/6/2019

Entangled Minke Whale in Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park

A minke whale ensnared in fishing rope was reported to the  Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN) by passengers of…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 21/6/2019

Beluga Belatedly Heads Back to Rejoin its Pod!

Since April 23, a beluga that could be described as a “vagrant” has been observed around the Gaspé Peninsula. The…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 27/5/2019

Young seal on the beach: leave it alone

Every year, the months of May and June represent the pupping season for harbour seals. During this period, the Quebec…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 3/5/2019

What should I do in the event of an incidental catch?

In Quebec, the crab and shrimp fishery got underway a few weeks ago. Despite all the efforts made to prevent…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 16/4/2019

Humpback Entangled in 2017 Spotted Alive!

The resilience of whales never ceases to amaze us! By analyzing photos taken in the summer of 2018, the Mingan…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/2/2019

Winter and Seasonal Seals

While harbour seals frequent the waters of the St. Lawrence throughout the year, certain periods are more favourable for observing…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/1/2019

1-877-7Baleine Still Active Throughout the Holidays!

Even if snow covers the shores of the St. Lawrence, Marine Mammal Emergencies continues its work. Throughout the winter, the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 20/12/2018

Marine Animal Response Society (MARS) – Nova Scotia, Canada

Marine Animal Response Society (MARS) Nova Scotia, Canada No matter where you are on the planet, marine mammals have allies.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 13/12/2018

The Nepisiguit River beluga… off Prince Edward Island

Professional scuba diving students were surprised to be joined by a beluga whale during a dive in Summerside Harbour last…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 12/12/2018

Thank you, Marine Mammal Emergencies volunteers!

On the occasion of International Volunteer Day (December 5), we would like to highlight the important contributions made by the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 5/12/2018
Béluga carcasse

Worrying St. Lawrence beluga mortality trend continues in 2018

The tragic plight of the St. Lawrence beluga population continues. Once again this year, researchers are highly concerned about the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 26/10/2018

Beached minke whale carcass at Pointe-aux-Outardes

On the morning of September 22, a minke whale carcass appeared off the coast of Pointe-aux-Outardes Nature Park. After drifting…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 2/10/2018

Rare Sowerby’s beaked whale found in Rivière-au-Tonnerre

A beaked whale was discovered stranded in Rivière-au-Tonnerre on September 17. Initial photos of the carcass immediately intrigued the Quebec…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 20/9/2018
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

Well-known beluga dies

July 29, 2018, 2:40 p.m.: the phone rings, breaking the silence at the Marine Mammal Emergencies call centre. Two recreational boaters…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 2/8/2018
Béluga carcasse

Two new beluga carcasses found in Bas-Saint-Laurent

Two beluga carcasses were found just two days apart in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The first carcass reported on July 9…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 11/7/2018

Entangled whales: a complex situation

Coordinating a disentanglement Every year, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (RQUMM) receives reports of marine mammals entangled in…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 3/7/2018

Young live seal on the river banks: do not disturb!

If you see a young seal on the beach, let it rest. The months of May and June are pupping…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 4/6/2018

Seals: topic of interest at marine mammals emergencies

Nearly a dozen seal carcasses were reported to 1-877-7baleine in April, and soon the first reports of pups will also…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 9/5/2018

Local residents, fishermen and boaters requested to report any dead or vulnerable marine mammal to 1-877-7baleine

With the return of mild temps and melting ice, this is the time of year when residents, fishermen and boat…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 25/4/2018

Reminder to fishermen: report all entangled whales to 1-877-7baleine

The commercial fishing season is well underway. This is the time of year when Mammal Marine Emergencies reminds fishermen that…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/4/2018

Belugas: first carcass for 2018 and recap of 2017

On March 26, the first beluga carcass of 2018 was reported to 1-877-7baleine at Coin-du-Banc in the Gaspé Peninsula. The carcass was…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 12/4/2018

Humpback stranded in magdalen islands: questions & answers

On Sunday, March 25, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network received a call concerning a beached humpback whale in the surf at Étang-du-Nord…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 29/3/2018

What kind of seal is that?

One observer reported a seal carcass found in Cacouna to the Marine Mammals Emergencies call centre. What species is it?…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 28/11/2017

Return of winter seals: two new sightings

Nordic visitors were spotted last weekend in the Gaspé as well as in the Bellechasse region upstream of the Estuary.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 16/11/2017

Return of winter seals

In these early days of autumn, seals that spend their winters in the waters of the St. Lawrence are returning…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 7/11/2017
Béluga du Saint-Laurent

Stranded newborn beluga in Alaska still in intensive care

Since being found stranded alive on September 30, the newborn beluga of the Cook Inlet population is still in intensive…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 30/10/2017

Fresh beluga carcass found in Saint-ulric

The Matane unit of Sureté du Québec contacted 1-877-7baleine after a resident stopped by the station to report a live…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 24/10/2017

Extremely Rare Beaked Whale Species Stranded in Magdalen Islands

Two carcasses are found side by side on the Pointe-aux-Loups beach on October 13. Observers initially believe they have found…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/10/2017

From the sea to the lab: the journey of a beluga carcass (3/3)

In the past two weeks, we’ve tracked the journeys of beluga carcasses from the open sea to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 16/10/2017

Rescue in Progress: Stranded Newborn Beluga in Alaska

It measures just 162 cm and weighs a mere 64.5 kg. A newborn beluga just two to four weeks old was found…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 4/10/2017
Béluga carcasse

From the sea to the lab: the journey of a beluga carcass (2/3)

From Necropsy to Microscope Last week, we tracked the journey of a female beluga from drifting offshore to the Faculty of Veterinary…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 2/10/2017
Béluga carcasse

From the sea to the lab: the journey of a beluga carcass (1/3)

Follow the stages of a beluga carcass recovery, from the initial report to the trip to the Faculty of Veterinary…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 25/9/2017

1-877-7baleine still active as autumn draws near

With the beginning of the school year, the crowds of vacationers are thinning out on the shores of the St.…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 13/9/2017

A summer overshadowed by right whale mortalities

The Marine Mammal Emergencies call centre has already handled nearly 200 cases and just over 350 calls this year. These figures are…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 29/8/2017

Marine mammal emergencies season in full swing

With the call centre team handling dozens of calls daily already in these first few days of August, the season…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 2/8/2017

Second minke whale stranded in lévis in one year

Update On the afternoon of June 6, veterinarian Stéphane Lair conducted a cursory external exam of the minke whale. It was confirmed…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 6/6/2017

Young Seal on the River Banks: Do Not Disturb!

The months of May and June are pupping season for harbour seals. Every year, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 16/5/2017

Young Humpback Found Stranded in Godbout Given Second Life in Tadoussac

On the shores of the Côte-Nord region, near Godbout, a small humpback whale was reported to Marine Mammal Emergencies on…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 12/5/2017

Citizens of the St. Lawrence, stay alert! Report any dead or vulnerable marine mammal to 1-877-7baleine

The Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network (QMMERN) relies on cooperative local citizens and fishermen to promptly report any dead or struggling…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 12/4/2017

Dead beluga stranded in magdalen islands; a carcass protected by law

On Saturday, a beluga washed up onto Fatima beach in the Magdalen Islands. The carcass is being eyed by local…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 3/4/2017
Béluga carcasse

First beluga carcass of the year reported in gaspésie

The first beluga carcass of the year was reported to Marine Mammals Emergencies. A resident of the Gaspé Peninsula town…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 30/3/2017

Spring Reveals Two Dolphin Carcasses in Sainte-Flavie

Two white-sided dolphin carcasses were discovered in Sainte-Flavie on March 21. A resident of this Lower St. Lawrence town and…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 27/3/2017

Dead Whale Adrift Amongst the Gaspé Ice Floes

Reports have been flying back and forth for the past three days: a whale carcass has been drifting along the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 27/2/2017

Fin Whale Carcass in Montmagny: Flashback to 1988

A few weeks ago, a botanist passionate about nature and wildlife took advantage of a winter day to sort through…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 25/1/2017

Is it normal to see seals on the ice?

Calls made to 1-877-7baleine since the end of last year were mostly from witnesses who observed seals lying on the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/1/2017

Volunteering for Marine Mammal Emergencies

Every year since 2012, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network has been recruiting volunteers who are available and motivated…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 10/1/2017

Marine Mammal Emergencies: an Active and Essential Network

In its 12th season, 1-877-7baleine team expended considerable effort to process no fewer than 410 calls from citizens reporting dead…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 20/12/2016

Busy Fall at 1-877-7baleine

One would've thought that the off season translates into peace and quiet at the Marine Mammal Emergencies call centre, but…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 14/12/2016

Blue Whale Found Dead in St. Lawrence Waters

A rare occurrence in the St. Lawrence; researchers of the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network confirmed this week that…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 7/12/2016

Rare adult hooded seals on shore!

An employee of Saumon Gaspé (Translator's note: a salmon fishing outfitter) was in for a surprise on Tuesday morning as…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 18/11/2016

Scientists Remain Concerned about Belugas

The 2016 season adds to the spate of St. Lawrence beluga mortalities: 14 carcasses were recovered and examined. It's not…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 27/10/2016

Marine Mammal Emergencies “Detectives”

This morning, a resident of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region reported the carcass of a toothed whale with a dark back and…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 25/10/2016

Live Stranded Dolphins: Story from an Anticosti Island Resident

Marine Mammal Emergencies has been busy since early fall, especially with incidents involving live stranded dolphins. On September 28, six…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 14/10/2016

What should be done if a cetacean is stranded alive?

Last August 29, a mother and daughter found a live harbour porpoise stranded on the beach in the town of…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 28/9/2016

Struggling Belugas in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park

Last week, Marine Mammal Emergencies received several calls for two vulnerable belugas: one near the Pointe-Noire observation site at the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 25/8/2016

A Tragic Series Continues

Third Young Beluga Found Stranded this Season In the late morning hours of July 31, Marine Mammal Emergencies received a…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 1/8/2016

5th Beluga Carcass for 2016

A kayaker was the first to report a beluga carcass when he contacted the media yesterday morning, July 17. Marine…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 18/7/2016

Rescue Attempt of a Young Beluga Stranded Alive – Updated July 7, 2016: Video Posted

On June 30, 2016, a female beluga just a few hours old was found stranded alive in Rivière-du-Loup. The team…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 7/7/2016

Fresh Beluga Carcass Found in Sainte-Flavie

On the morning of June 28, the municipality of Sainte-Flavie received a call from citizens who had discovered a beluga…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 28/6/2016

Final journey of a Sowerby’s beaked whale

A Sowerby’s beaked whale was reported to 1-877-7baleine on Monday, June 13 on the shores of Escuminac in the Gaspé…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 17/6/2016

Young Seal Disturbed at Cap-aux-Os: Key Things to Remember

A young harbour seal was reported last week on a Gaspé Bay beach. The case sparked many reactions and unprecedented…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 7/6/2016

Mortality of a Female Beluga

On 29 May 2016, an article about a beluga carcasse found in Les Escoumins was published. The fresh carcass was transported to the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 6/6/2016

Live Seal Pup on the Beach: What Should You Do?

The months of May and June correspond to the pupping season for harbour seals. Every year, the Quebec Marine Mammal…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/5/2016

Mortalities in the Estuary

A Beluga Carcass in Bas-Saint-Laurent Every year, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network handles between 15 and 20 cases of…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 12/5/2016

Young Minke Whale Beached in Québec City Region

The story has already generated its share of headlines: a whale, more specifically a minke whale, was found dead on…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 4/5/2016

Show me your teeth and I’ll tell you who you are

Since early April, Marine Mammal Emergencies has handled three cases involving seal carcasses: two in Sept-Îles and one in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. There…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 29/4/2016

First “Marine Mammal Emergencies” Cases of the Season

Activity at the Call Centre 1-877-7baleine changes with the seasons; April and May are the months when we receive reports…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 12/4/2016

Marine Mammal Emergencies Reiterates the Importance of Reporting Dead or Vulnerable Marine Mammals

[caption id="attachment_18443" align="alignright" width="250"] © Marie-Frédérique Robitaille[/caption] The arrival of spring is synonymous with the return of marine mammals that…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 4/4/2016

Marine Mammal Emergencies Gears Up for Another Season

[caption id="attachment_18286" align="alignright" width="184"] © Fabienne Michot[/caption] After two months of complete silence in the 1-877-7baleine call centre, a case…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 19/3/2016

Rare Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Found Dead in Nova Scotia

On February 7, Nova Scotia's Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network, the Marine Animal Response Society (MARS), received a report of…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 17/2/2016

Seals on the Ice: Cause for Concern?

Since the beginning of winter, Marine Mammal Emergencies has received reports of seals on the ice in the Gaspé region,…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 26/1/2016

Marine Mammal Emergencies Needs You!

Do you live near the St. Lawrence? Do you enjoy walking on its shores? Do you have a flexible schedule…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 5/1/2016

Here we go again! Seals on the horizon…

On December 10, the Marine Mammal Emergencies Call Centre was contacted by a media source: it had received a report…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 14/12/2015

Autumn Surprise

For nearly a month, the phone at the Call Centre 1-877-7baleine has been silent. Then, it's just before 5 pm…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 3/12/2015

Why so many questions?

The 1-877-7baleine call centre team frequently says that their work often resembles that of a detective! When a mammal is…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 15/10/2015

Another Behemoth Stranded in the Magdalen Islands

[caption id="attachment_13837" align="alignright" width="250"] © Léonard Chevarie[/caption] The North Atlantic right whale that washed up on the western dunes in…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 22/9/2015

Belugas “On the Run”
September 18, 2015: Fisheries and Oceans Canada reminds the public not to interact with the beluga

News: September 18, 2015: Fisheries and Oceans Canada reminds the public not to interact with the beluga We haven't heard…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 18/9/2015

End of Summer at Marine Mammal Emergencies

As summer is winding down in the coastal areas of the St. Lawrence, one might think that the telephone at…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 10/9/2015

Piper’s Adventure Caught on Camera

A little more than two months have passed since the discovery of Piper's carcass off Percé, a North Atlantic right…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 2/9/2015

A 12th Beluga Carcass Found in 2015

12th Beluga Carcass Discovered On August 18, observers stationed on the rocks of the Marine Environment Discovery Centre (MEDC) in…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 21/8/2015

A Disturbing Beluga Carcass

Residents of the town of Chandler promptly called 1-877-7baleine on the afternoon of August 13 when a beluga carcass was…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 14/8/2015

Two North Atlantic Right Whale carcasses in the Gulf of St. Lawrence; One Washes Ashore

After the right whale found dead off the coast of Percé this past June 24, two more carcasses of the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 11/8/2015

Three Beluga Carcasses Added to Year’s Tally

Prior to the two incidents reported last July 25, six belugas had been found dead since the beginning of the…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 30/7/2015

On the Lookout for a Beluga

Early this morning, at 8:30, a collaborator from the Canadian Coast Guard reports a beluga carcass that a friend spotted…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 9/7/2015

Large Rorquals Adrift…

In the Gaspé "It was so big...even from miles away, I thought it was an island!" These are the words…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 6/7/2015

First Beluga Carcass for 2015

It's the low season for the call centre of the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network; a single case has…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 4/5/2015

Dead or Struggling Marine Mammals: 1-877-7baleine

With the arrival of spring, the once frozen shores of the St. Lawrence begin to open up, exposing carcasses of…

|Marine Mammal Emergencies 16/4/2015