Marine Mammals, from the St. Lawrence to the Caribbean

“Several seals were basking on the drifting ice near Sept-Îles,” reports one seasoned observer. Photos confirm that the ice has taken a firm hold in this sector. A similar observation was reported near Gallix, where three seals lying on the ice floes were being gently rocked by the waves. In Tadoussac, a few folks present at GREMM’s offices spotted a plump little pinniped on a large ice floe floating down the Saguenay. Nearby, a naturalist also observed several seals drifting on the ice in the St. Lawrence. “On Friday, February 27, I saw my first harp seal on a distant boulder at low tide. It took me several minutes, a few photos, and another pair of trained eyes to confirm the species, but its black head quickly dispelled any doubts!” added a cross-country skier in Les Bergeronnes.

This year’s significant ice cover is good news for seals, which can use it to rest, give birth, and moult. For harp seals, pupping season generally takes place between mid-February and mid-March.

“I saw a blue whale spout offshore last weekend,” reports a resident of Baie-Comeau. Whales have been keeping a lower profile lately, with seals stealing the show on the ice pack that is firmly established in the St. Lawrence!

Identified in 2021 in the St. Lawrence Estuary by GREMM, humpback whale H682 was spotted last February in the Caribbean by the Turks and Caicos Islands Whale Project team. Even more fascinating was the underwater recording of the individual’s song, which testifies to the complexity of communication in this species.

Humpbacks—primarily males—sing during the breeding season to signal their presence to other bulls, establish dominance, and attract females for mating. The sounds produced by males during the breeding season are described as “songs” by scientists and are distinguished from other humpback vocalizations by their structure and the repetition of certain parts, much like the verses and refrain of a song! These melodies even vary between populations and from one breeding season to another.

Thanks to all our collaborators!