Marine Mammal Emergencies
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
2019 Beluga Mortality Report
“Mortality figures for 2019 are hardly reassuring,” comments Robert Michaud, scientific director for the Group for Research and Education on…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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)…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Winter and Seasonal Seals
While harbour seals frequent the waters of the St. Lawrence throughout the year, certain periods are more favourable for observing…
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 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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Entangled whales: a complex situation
Coordonner la mise en place d’un dépêtrement Le Réseau québécois d’urgences pour les mammifères marins (RQUMM) reçoit chaque année des…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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?…
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.…
Return of winter seals
In these early days of autumn, seals that spend their winters in the waters of the St. Lawrence are returning…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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 season in full swing
With the call centre team handling dozens of calls daily already in these first few days of August, the season…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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: 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…
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…
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…
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…
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 “Detectives”
This morning, a resident of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region reported the carcass of a toothed whale with a dark back and…
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…
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…
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…
A Tragic Series Continues
Third Young Beluga Found Stranded this Season In the late morning hours of July 31, Marine Mammal Emergencies received a…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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 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…
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…
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 Needs You!
Do you live near the St. Lawrence? Do you enjoy walking on its shores? Do you have a flexible schedule…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Large Rorquals Adrift…
In the Gaspé "It was so big...even from miles away, I thought it was an island!" These are the words…
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…
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…