Latest news with #TonyaWimmer
CTV News
16 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
What to do if you come across a stranded marine animal
Tonya Wimmer, executive director of MARS, discusses what people should do if they find a stranded marine animal on a Maritime beach. With the high heat across the Maritimes, many people are hitting the beaches, but in recent weeks that's also come with several reports of marine animals that have become stranded. On Thursday, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) alongside the Marine Animal Response Society (MARS) helped free a pilot whale that had become stuck in a bank on the Sydney River. 'It found itself way back in the Sydney River and had been there for a day or so and Fisheries and Oceans tried to encourage it to go back up the river but that didn't work so (Thursday) we were en route aiming to get there and work with DFO, they were able to get their hands on it and get it into what's called a whale rescue pontoon and then we worked together to take it as far out as we could and release it,' said MARS executive director Tonya Wimmer in an interview with CTV's Jesse Thomas. stranded dolphins Dolphins are pictured, trapped in the mud in the aboiteau in Canning, N.S., on Aug. 3, 2025. (Source: Facebook/The Valley Eye Photography) The rescue was not the first that week either, as a group of dolphins had also become stuck near Canning, N.S., on Sunday. 'That one was particularly challenging because it was a group of, in the end it was 13 Atlantic white-sided dolphins, that found themselves way up on the rivers in the back of the Minas Basin. Anyone who's in the area knows about those big tides in the Bay of Fundy and especially in this area it's an area filled with thick, seepy mud and a really deep incline down to where these dolphins were,' said Wimmer, adding that animal rescues are fairly common during the summer months. 'The other thing is we have more people out on water, on beaches and they also have access to things like cameras on their phones and things like social media so word gets out pretty quick,' she said. Rescuers Brave volunteers from Canning, N.S., are pictured in a canoe on the mudflats of the Minas Basin during a dolphin rescue on Aug. 3, 2025. (Source: Facebook/The Valley Eye Photography) While many people may feel the urge to go help if they see a stranded marine animal, Wimmer says people shouldn't intervene as it can be dangerous. Instead she recommends calling MARS. 'The big thing is really that people do make that phone call because the reality of what we're dealing with are animals that are in unpredictable situations and sometimes they're also in very dangerous situations, so we just don't want people to put themselves in harm's way or do things that may harm the animal.' MARS operates a toll-free hotline to report any stranded animals at 1-866-567-6277. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
5 days ago
- General
- CBC
Nova Scotia community rescues pod of dolphins trapped in mud
A community in northern Nova Scotia came together on Sunday to rescue a pod of dolphins stranded in mud. Tonya Wimmer, executive director of the Marine Animal Response Society, says while she 'admires the passion' of the concerned community members, it is dangerous to intervene without professional assistance.
CTV News
03-08-2025
- General
- CTV News
Dolphins trapped at low tide in Canning, N.S.
An Atlantic white-sided dolphin is pictured jumping out of the water. (Source: Adventure Canada) A group of Atlantic white-sided dolphins is trapped in the mud near Canning, N.S. The dolphins became trapped when the tide dropped, said Tonya Wimmer, executive director of the Marine Animal Response Society, in an email to CTV Atlantic. 'We have a team onsite monitoring the situation,' Wimmer said. It's unsafe to attempt a rescue on the mud, which Wimmer said is quite treacherous, so they waited for the tide to rise Sunday evening to assess how the animals react. Local emergency services remain on standby. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
17-06-2025
- Science
- CBC
Remains of large shortfin mako shark found in eastern Nova Scotia
A marine animal rescue group has confirmed a rare but unfortunate find on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore. The Halifax-based Marine Animal Response Society says the remains of a large shortfin mako shark — considered the fastest shark in the ocean — were found Saturday along the shoreline near Port Dufferin, N.S., about 140 kilometres east of Halifax. Executive director Tonya Wimmer said Monday it remains unclear how the 3.6-metre adult female died. "It wasn't in the greatest shape," Wimmer said in an interview, adding that the animal was too decomposed to allow for a necropsy. "She likely would have been there for a few days.… And there wasn't anything on the animal externally to give us any clues as to why it would be in this location." It is unusual to find this type of shark near shore. "They're usually offshore in warmer waters in the Gulf Stream, on the banks," Wimmer said. "It is a very rare thing for them to be this close to shore. But it has happened over the years." 'These are the fastest sharks that exist' According to the federal Fisheries Department, shortfin makos can grow to 3.9 metres in length and they can swim at speeds reaching 68 kilometres per hour. "It's an absolutely amazing animal," Wimmer said. "These are the fastest sharks that exist. They are phenomenal … And they have these aerial displays at times when they'll jump out of the water." Makos have been known to jump as high as six metres above the water. As well, they frequent Browns Bank on the continental shelf off southwestern Nova Scotia, as well as the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They swim as far south as Argentina. And they have a particularly intimidating look. "The teeth are slender and slightly curved … and are visible even when the mouth is closed, giving it a fearsome appearance," the Fisheries Department says on its website. As for their colouring, the department says they have white undersides and "metallic indigo blue" topsides. Increase in shark sightings They mainly eat squid, mackerel, tuna, bonitos and swordfish. But other sharks and porpoises are sometimes on the menu. "It is rarely encountered by swimmers or divers due to its oceanic nature and should be treated with respect and caution," the department says. "The mako has been known to attack boats on occasion but most of these attacks are usually linked to being hooked by game fishers and are considered abnormal behaviour." Little else is known about this elusive species, which was designated as endangered in 2019 by the independent Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. The mako population is primarily threatened by longline fisheries that are trying to catch other fish. In recent years, there has been an increase in shark sightings along Canada's East Coast, with reports of great white sharks getting most of the attention. Last July, the Ocean Tracking Network at Dalhousie University in Halifax confirmed it was working on a plan to post warning signs for beachgoers for the first time. Experts say conservation measures had helped the great white shark population recover from a drastic decline in the 1970s and 1980s. As well, they said climate change had led to warmer ocean temperatures, making it easier for many ocean species to spread northward. But Wimmer said it's too early to tell what is happening with the makos. Past mako encounters in N.S. "Climate change is affecting a lot of the marine animals in our ocean. We've seen it with whales, we've seen it with other species.… [But] we don't have a lot of information on makos. It is something still to be determined." In 2002, several makos were caught during a shark fishing derby 16 kilometres from Halifax harbour. Two years later, a massive 490-kilogram mako was landed in Yarmouth, N.S., where it was hauled away with a forklift, its gaping jaws showing rows of hooked teeth. Still, makos are seldom found in waters colder than 16 C, experts say.
Hamilton Spectator
16-06-2025
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
Rare find: Remains of large, shortfin mako shark found in eastern Nova Scotia
PORT DUFFERIN - A marine animal rescue group has confirmed a rare but unfortunate find on Nova Scotia's eastern shore. The Halifax-based Marine Animal Response Society says the remains of a large, shortfin mako shark — considered the fastest shark in the ocean — were found Saturday along the shoreline near Port Dufferin, N.S., about 140 kilometres east of Halifax. Executive Director Tonya Wimmer said Monday it remains unclear how the adult, 3.6-metre female died. 'It wasn't in the greatest shape,' Wimmer said in an interview, adding that the animal was too decomposed to allow for a necropsy. 'She likely would have been there for a few days .... And there wasn't anything on the animal externally to give us any clues as to why it would be in this location.' It is unusual to find this type of shark near shore. 'They're usually offshore in warmer waters in the Gulf Stream, on the banks,' Wimmer said. 'It is a very rare thing for them to be this close to shore. But it has happened over the years.' According to the federal fisheries department, shortfin makos can grow to 3.9 meters in length, and they can swim at speeds reaching 68 kilometres per hour. 'It's an absolutely amazing animal,' Wimmer said. 'These are the fastest sharks that exist. They are phenomenal ... And they have these aerial displays at times when they'll jump out of the water.' Makos have been known to jump as high as six metres above the water. As well, they frequent Browns Bank on the continental shelf off southwestern Nova Scotia, as well as the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They swim as far south as Argentina. And they have a particularly intimidating look. 'The teeth are slender and slightly curved ... and are visible even when the mouth is closed, giving it a fearsome appearance,' the fisheries department says on its website. As for their colouring, the department says they have white undersides and 'metallic indigo blue' topsides. They mainly eat squid, mackerel, tuna, bonitos and swordfish. But other sharks and porpoises are sometimes on the menu. 'It is rarely encountered by swimmers or divers due to its oceanic nature and should be treated with respect and caution,' the department says. 'The mako has been known to attack boats on occasion but most of these attacks are usually linked to being hooked by game fishers and are considered abnormal behaviour.' Little else is known about this elusive species, which was designated as endangered in 2019 by the independent Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. The mako population is primarily threatened by longline fisheries that are trying to catch other fish. In recent years, there has been an increase in shark sightings along Canada's East Coast, with reports of great white sharks getting most of the attention. Last July, the Ocean Tracking Network at Dalhousie University in Halifax confirmed it was working on a plan to to post warning signs for beachgoers for the first time. Experts say conservation measures had helped the great white shark population recover from a drastic decline in the 1970s and 1980s. As well, they said climate change had led to warmer ocean temperatures, making it easier for many ocean species to spread northward. But Wimmer said it's too early to tell what is happening with the makos. 'Climate change is affecting a lot of the marine animals in our ocean. We've seen it with whales, we've seen it with other species .... (But) we don't have a lot of information on makos. It is something still to be determined.' In 2002, several makos were caught during a shark fishing derby 16 kilometres from Halifax harbour. Two years later, a massive 1,085-pound mako was landed in Yarmouth, N.S., where it was hauled away with a forklift, its gaping jaws showing rows of hooked teeth. Still, makos are seldom found in waters colder than 16 C, experts say. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025. — By Michael MacDonald in Halifax Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
