Intriguing Cases Involving Seals in the Magdalen Islands

A number of hypotheses have been put forward to explain these multiple strandings. A herd of harp seals is frequenting the southern part of the Gulf. This year, the ice on which these animals spend much of their time has drifted from west of the archipelago to the south and has recently passed close to the islands. Natural deaths and the end of the hunting season may explain the presence of these carcasses, particularly in the southern part of the archipelago.

Another phenomenon that surprised the witnesses was the absence of a head on nearly all the carcasses discovered (6 of the 7 carcasses confirmed to date were missing their heads). Here again, there is a logical explanation: gammarids and other scavenging organisms attack the carcasses through their orifices in order to make their work easier. This is why the head, with its numerous cavities, is a choice starting point for scavengers.

At the time of writing, the presence of these carcasses was not alarming, though we continue to monitor the situation closely. Without these reports submitted by everyday citizens, we would be unable to collect this information and monitor how the situation evolves. Reporting your sightings is therefore essential!