MONTREAL — A researcher says a dead whale found today in the St. Lawrence River southeast of Montreal is probably one of two minke whales seen near the city earlier this month.
Robert Michaud, president of a Quebec marine mammal research group, says experts have yet to examine the carcass found in Contrecoeur, about 50 kilometres downstream from Montreal.
Michaud says a necropsy could be performed depending on that assessment, adding that the task would fall to veterinary medicine students at the Université de Montréal.
Two minke whales were spotted this month near Montreal and there were concerns for their well-being as they were about 450 kilometres upstream of their usual range.
Minke whales are common in Quebec but they don’t generally venture west of the saltwater St. Lawrence estuary around Tadoussac.
It’s unclear why whales occasionally venture into freshwater habitats, but Michaud has said there isn’t much that can be done to help them besides hoping they turn around and head home.
The two Montreal whales had not been seen since mid-May.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2022.
The Canadian Press
