From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters, communities take root in the land and in water. We live, work, laugh and grow alongside our human and animal neighbors alike. We may not know their names or always see them, but we recognize their songs, their tracks and, when they’re gone, their absence.
Massachusetts boasts vibrant autumn colors, prestigious colleges and two well-known sports teams: the Red Sox and the Patriots. The state also takes much pride in its 1,500-mile coastline that is home to picturesque bays and harbors, which gives it the nickname “The Bay State.”
While Boston Whalers, fishing boats, yachts and classic sailboats are all hallmarks of Massachusetts’ waters, there’s an important resident off the coast – the Atlantic Ocean coast – that has also become a symbol of this great state. And they need all the love they can get.
Meet Massachusetts State Marine Mammal: The Right Whale
Bay Staters and tourists alike may grab their binoculars and attempt to glimpse the stocky, black bodied North Atlantic right whale as she surfaces on calm, sunny spring days. There are three species of right whale, North Pacific (Eubalaena japonica), Southern (Eubalaena australis) and, those spotted off United States’ eastern coasts, the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). All right whales are baleen whales, or filter feeders.
North Atlantic right whales are quite rare, as there are fewer than 400 surviving today. While they are not year-round residents off Massachusetts’ coasts, Cape Cod Bay, Outer Cape and Massachusetts Bay host up to two-thirds of these whales each January through May.
All North Atlantic right whales will spend their summers in the northern end of their range, off New England’s coast and in Canadian waters. The population then splits in the winter with pregnant females migrating south to birth and nurse their young. The warm, shallow waters off the southeastern U.S. are their only known calving grounds. The rest of the whales typically remain off of New England and Mid-Atlantic coasts.
The next time you take advantage of Massachusetts’ coast and waters keep your eyes alert for surfacing and breaching whales. North Atlantic right whales have a stocky, black body with bumpy patches of rough skin, called callosities, on their heads. These whales do not sport a dorsal fin.
Massachusetts: A Feasting Grounds
What’s the draw, for a North Atlantic right whale, to the Massachusetts’ coast? Massachusetts’ waters contain dense groupings of zooplankton, which are North Atlantic right whales food source. Zooplankton are abundant here because the waters are nutrient rich and the oceans’ topography in this area creates fronts which trap the tiny animals here.
North Atlantic right whales are sometimes sighted swimming through patches of zooplankton with their mouths open. They will take a large gulp of water and filter out their prey using their baleen plates, which they sport instead of teeth. Baleen plates are made of keratin; the same protein human hair and nails are made of.
A Shared Home in Need of Protecting
Most adult North Atlantic Right whales are killed by human actions before they reach 40 years old, preventing these animals from living out their full lifespan. Fishing gear entanglements, vessel strikes and underwater noise pollution are the biggest threats to this critically endangered whale. These threats are killing right whales faster than they can reproduce, putting the population further at risk. The good news is, both Bay Staters and visitors to Massachusetts’ bays and coast can help.
If you are out boating, keep a keen eye out for V-shaped mist from blowholes or signs of feeding whales. By federal law, boats must keep at least 500 yards away from whales for everyone’s – both human and animal - safety. Also, be aware of “slow zones” which can be triggered for vessels of any size when three or more right whales have been sighted in an area. If you see a whale, slow down or ask your captain to.
It’s important for everyone to report North Atlantic right whale sightings. If you see a right whale – or even think you may have – while in any state between Maine and Virginia, call (866) 755-6622. Sightings can also be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard via communications channel 16.
North Atlantic right whales also need your voice. Some members of Congress and the Trump Administration are attempting to undo measures intended to help protect these whales. The largest are attempts to roll back the vessel speed rule, which helps prevent right whales from vessel strikes. Urge the Administration to keep an expanded vessel speed rule in place as well as other protections for right whales.
Massachusetts displays pride for its state marine mammal through an annual Right Whale Day on April 24. There are several educational and community events around the state to celebrate, including at the Aquarium and along the harbors.
Take Pride in Your Whale Neighbors
Imagine Massachusetts without its bustling, college campuses. Imagine the beautiful bays and harbors the state boasts without the pristine Boston Whalers and sailboats rocking on the waves. What would the Bay State look like without its splashing waters and giant right whales? Lifeless.
The next time you take pride in being a Bay Stater, take pride in the wild souls who share this home with you. Witness the love for right whales when enjoying the celebrations and tours. Write about the need to protect these critically endangered animals. Watch for whales feeding under the waters. And then, when you think you know it all about your fellow Massachusetts whale, challenge yourself to learn about the other wildlife sharing our beautiful home.
What's your favorite Massachusetts wildlife? Have an incredible salamander story? Share with us in the comments! Then, stay tuned for our next wild locals in Georgia.
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