Marine Animal Response Society

This Giving Tuesday, make a donation to MARS. Your support makes it possible for MARS to deliver urgently needed care to live stranded marine animals and investigate incidents of dead marine animals. It means that we are able to act whenever the need arises. Our success is made possible by donors just like you. Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=KG28U93BF983L... Giving a gift? Help save marine animals in the name of someone you love. MARS will provide you with a personalized electronic donation certificate for you to send to your gift recipient. Please be sure to indicate if the donation is a gift and provide the recipient’s full name in the Write A Note section on the second donation page (e.g. This donation is a gift for Elahw Mreps.) Charitable tax receipts will be issued for donations over $20. #givingtuesday #marineanimals #donatetoday

A dead, stranded blue whale washed ashore on Belfry Beach, Gabarus Lake South, Nova Scotia in May of 1985. The collection of cetacean stranding data across a wide geographical area and time in the Maritimes is valuable. Not only can it provide fundamental information on species composition, but long-term records on the time and location of stranding events can also give clues to spatial distribution and seasonal movements. Many thanks to Angela Polegatto for taking these pho...tos and Maria Lisa Polegatto, one of our dedicated volunteers, for sending them to us. #bluewhale #onefortherecords #archive #belfrybeach #capebreton #novascotia

Finally some happy North Atlantic right whale news...two right whale babies have been spotted on the calving grounds off Florida and Georgia! Here's hoping they stay healthy and we hear about many more in the coming months! #RIGHTWHALE #yayforbabies

First known North Atlantic right whale calf of the season washed ashore dead this past Friday on a barrier island off North Carolina... a devastating start to the calving season. A team of experts from the area was assembled to conduct a necropsy to determine cause of death of the male #rightwhale calf. Initial results suggest the calf died during birth, or shortly thereafter. No evidence of human interaction was found. With only 356 North Atlantic right whales left in the wo...rld, according to new estimates, every single birth brings so much hope for this critically endangered species. And on the other side, every single death brings this species one step closer to disappearing forever For the full article from NOAA, visit: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov//first-known-north-atlantic

Don't have plans for this evening? Sign up now for a virtual screening of the documentary Entangled hosted by our colleagues in the US with the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. "Entangled is a new, award-winning film about how climate change has accelerated a collision between one of the world’s most endangered species, North America’s most valuable fishery, and a federal agency mandated to protect both." After the film, we'll have a panel discussion featuring film...maker David Abel and local right whale experts. The screening is free, but Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation have said that donations are welcomed. Donations will help cover their screening costs and support the Year of the Right Whale project and whale research. Sign up here: checkout.square.site/buy/HCZ7L7TUUK2I74VE5NL5JFA6

One of our dedicated #volunteers giving a presentation to youth on marine species on behalf of MARS and @canadaseaturtle as part of the Wild Outside Program through @cwf_fcf. #wildoutside #cwf #marinespecies #volunteerlove

Nowadays, when a large dead whale washes up on shore, we do things a little differently. At MARS, we understand the importance of investigating the deaths of all marine species and advocate to be able to conduct necropsies in a systematic and thorough manner so we can better understand their overall health, including impacts from human activities. To the best of our ability, these investigations are done by conducting complete necropsies with the remains buried respectfully,... properly and safely following the investigations. https://katu.com//the-exploding-whale-50th-anniversary-of- See more

"The COVID-19 pandemic impacts not only humans but both our environment and wildlife." A new paper from researchers at Dalhousie University suggests "wastewater is a conduit for reverse zoonotic transmission of" COVID-19 and could put several species of marine mammals at-risk. The researchers suggest restricted access and vaccination as ways to limit COVID-19 risk to marine mammals.... Follow the link for the full publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com//arti/pii/S0048969720368777

We at MARS are excited about collaborating with the The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq through the Mainland Mi’kmaq Marine Mammal Response Program (MMRP) project! They now have stickers available with MARS hotline and information on what to do if you see a dead, injured, or distressed marine animal in the Maritime provinces. If you would like a sticker, please reach out to [email protected] #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #collaboration #marinespecies #maritimes

Today we honour all those who have served and their sacrifices. Please join us in observing a moment of silence. #remembranceday

In late October, Cottontail, an entangled 11-year old male right whale, was tracked moving into Canadian waters. He had been tracked for over 700 miles since he was discovered entangled and tagged with a telemetry buoy south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, shortly after entering Canadian waters the telemetry buoy seemed to be adrift. A DFO plane located the buoy floating in the ocean with no right whales nearby. We're hopeful Cottontail may be able to break free... of the remaining gear. Anyone who sees this, or any other entangled whale, in the Canadian Maritime Provinces are asked to call MARS immediately at 1-866-567-6277. #rightwhale #entangled #fortheloveofwhales